UC-NRLF 


"^  'SO 

$^$M--M 


•I  ?  <b. 


cr 

C\J 

oo 


LIBRARY 

1    UNIVERSITY  OP 
\CALIKXINIA 


WHITE    APRONS. 


*  ^  * '  *  "  •    •  Vl 


iWHITE 
APRONS 


ROMANCEOPBA- 
COM5'REBELL1°N:   • 
VIRGINIA,  i  676-2 


AUTHOR.-OF-THE         : 
HEAD-OFAHUM= 
DRED"THE  COL 
ON  I ALCAVAU 


B   O  STO  N 

LITTLE-BROWN-ANDCO 

18  96 


. 


WHITE 
APRONS 


ROMANCE-OP  BA* 
i  COM5-REBELL1°N: 
{  VIRGINIA,  i  676- 


HEAD-OFAHUN= 
DRED"THECOL- 


B  O  STO  N 

LITTLE-BROWN-ANDCO 

1896 


IOAN  STACK 


Copyright,  1896, 
BY  LITTLE,  BROWN,  AND  COMPANY. 


JOHN  WILSON  AND  SON,  CAMBRIDGE,  U.S.A. 


TO 
WILDER     GOODWIN 

AND 

WILDER    BELLAMY 


483 


PREFACE. 


T^HE  hero  and  heroine  of  this  story  are  not 
to  be  too  closely  identified  with  the  well- 
known  families  whose  names  they  bear,  as  their 
connection  was  remote,  and  through  branches 
which  can  be  traced,  if  at  all,  only  by  some 
delver  in  forgotten  records. 

The  obscurity  which  veils  the  entire  history 
of  the  great  struggle  between  tyranny  and  popu 
lar  rights  in  Virginia  a  hundred  years  before 
the  Revolution,  makes  accuracy  impossible  for 
the  most  painstaking  historian;  but  the  mist 
of  uncertainty  which  hangs  about  these  events 
lends  them  only  an  added  charm  in  the  eyes  of 
the  romancer  whose  field  of  research  lies  in 
the  realm  of  "  might  have  been.  " 
vii 


Preface. 

The  author  of  White  Aprons  trusts  that,  in 
spite  of  this  vagueness,  and  although  of  necessity 
historical  facts  have  been  moulded  to  the  pur 
poses  of  fiction,  the  story  will  still  be  found  in 
the  main  a  faithful  picture  of  the  times  it  rep 
resents,  and  will  lead  to  a  closer  study  of  one 
of  the  most  interesting  epochs  of  our  early 

history. 

M.   W.   G. 

NEW  YORK, 

January,  1896. 


Vlll 


CONTENTS. 


I.  PENELOPE n 

II.  IN  CAMP 28 

III.  FLAG  OF  TRUCE 51 

IV.  HEARTS  OF  GOLD 71 

V.  A  TRADER 88 

VI.  MONTAGUE  AND  CAPULET 103 

VII.  THE  KING'S  COMMISSION 117 

VIII.  LAODICEANS 138 

IX.  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW  .    .    .  155 

X.  VENGEANCE 164 

XI.  THE  TRIAL  OF  BRYAN  FAIRFAX    .    .  178 

XII.  PENELOPE'S  PILGRIMAGE 212 

XIII.  OVER  SEAS 224 

XIV.  THE  LIONS  OF  LONDON 238 

XV.  THREE  LETTERS 254 

XVI.  PENELOPE  GOES  TO  COURT    ....  268 

XVII.  A  PRIVATE  INTERVIEW 287 

XVIII.  A  FOY 301 

XIX.  APRIL  TWENTY-THIRD 320 


WHITE    APRONS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PENELOPE. 

"  Hath  she  her  faults  ?     I  would  you  had  them  too : 
They  are  the  fruity  must  of  soundest  wine." 

ROSEMARY  HALL  stood  four-square  at  the 
head  of  a  winding  creek  which  flows  into  the 
York  River.  It  was  counted  in  its  day  the  finest 
mansion  in  tide-water  Virginia.  Its  posts  and 
beams  were  hewn  from  the  giant  pines  of  the 
primeval  forest,  and  were  of  a  size  and  thickness 
to  put  our  modern  cardboard  frames  to  shame. 

There  was  something  of  nobleness  in  the  very 
plainness  of  the  house.  Its  square  outlines  and 
broad  sweep  of  roof  were  marked  by  a  simple 
dignity  which  fitly  comported  with  the  lives  led 
within  the  shelter  of  its  walls.  Perchance  to  one 
ii 


White  Aprons. 

familiar  with  the  stately  stone  mansions  of  the  old 
world  the  term  "  Hall  "  might  have  sounded  over- 
ambitious  for  this  plain  house  of  wood;  but 
those  who  knew  Colonel  Theophilus  Payne,  its 
owner,  realized  that  pretension  of  any  kind  was 
foreign  to  his  nature.  It  was  rather  his  very  sim 
plicity  which  led  him  to  cling  to  all  the  traditions 
of  the  old  home,  and  still,  after  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  to  cherish  the  name  hallowed  by  early 
associations. 

Nor  was  its  name  all  that  Rosemary  Hall  had 
borrowed  from  England.  Everything  within  its 
walls  gave  hint  of  having  come  hither  from  a  land 
across  the  seas,  —  the  carved  oaken  cupboard  in 
the  corner  of  the  dining-room,  the  pewter  and 
silver  plate  which  shone  on  its  shelves,  the  fire- 
dogs  on  the  hearth,  the  high-backed  chairs  in  the 
wide  saloon,  the  slender-legged  spinet  which  was 
the  Hall's  chief  ornament,  —  nay,  not  the  chief,  for 
that  was  the  maiden  who  sat  before  the  spinet,  this 
September  afternoon,  surrounded  by  the  slant 
glory  of  the  autumn  sun,  which  touched  her  red- 
brown  hair  to  the  color  of  burnished  copper,  and 
played  about  the  curves  of  her  rounded  throat. 

To  attempt  the  portrait  of  beauty  is  ever  a  diffi 
cult  task  for  brush  or  pen,  since  beauty  is  a 
harmony  which  fixes  itself  less  in  the  mind  than 
12 


Penelope. 

discord.  Moreover,  it  is  so  cheap  a  dowry  that  few 
romancers  have  been  able  to  resist  bestowing  it 
upon  their  heroines ;  and  it  has  become  so  common 
that  the  reader  turns  away  sated  from  the  inven 
tory  of  charms,  and  well-nigh  longs  for  a  wart  on 
the  nose,  or  some  break  in  the  monotonous  cate 
gory  of  perfections. 

It  is  not  without  hesitation,  therefore,  that  I  set 
down  the  fact  forced  upon  me  by  the  cumulative 
testimony  of  tradition,  and  of  an  old  portrait  still 
existing,  that  Penelope  Payne  was  beautiful.  Yet 
in  extenuation  of  the  statement  be  it  said,  that  her 
beauty  was  a  harmonious  discord  and  her  face  was 
full  of  faults.  Her  nose  was  too  short,  and  bore 
a  tiny  row  of  freckles  along  its  bridge.  Her 
mouth  was  too  wide,  and  its  upper  lip  too  sharply 
curved.  Her  coloring  suggested  the  old  saying,  — 

"  Hair  and  eyes  that  match  in  hue 
Mark  the  sibyl  or  the  shrew." 

In  this  case  the  proverb  bade  fair  to  be  doubly 
true,  for  a  quick  brain,  a  warm  heart,  and  a  hot 
temper  were  so  blended  that  none  could  say  which 
in  the  end  would  conquer  and  take  the  lead.  This 
w.is  a  question  to  be  settled  in  large  measure  by 
the  influences  under  which  her  life  might  chance  to 
fall  hereafter. 

13 


White  Aprons. 

The  girl's  dress  was  marked  by  that  sobriety 
which  in  colonial  regions  subdued  the  coquetry  of 
a  costume  devised  to  meet  the  tastes  of  the  fair 
and  free  dames  of  the  court  of  the  second  Charles. 
Her  shoes  were  of  russet  leather,  and  the  suspicion 
of  hose  which  showed  above  them  was  of  the  same 
hue.  The  gown  was  of  flowered  dimity,  looped 
back  to  show  a  sad-colored  paragon  petticoat, 
and  over  this  fell  an  apron  of  some  soft  white  stuff. 
The  bodice  was  cut  low,  but  the  shoulders  above 
it  hid  themselves  modestly  beneath  a  snowy  white 
whisk  whose  ruffled  ends  were  demurely  crossed 
and  snugly  secured  at  the  waist.  Only  the  arms 
were  left  bare,  and  showed  their  supple  curves  and 
dimpled  elbows  as  the  maiden's  fingers  wandered 
idly  over  the  wooden  keys  of  the  old  spinet.  The 
music-book  before  her  fluttered  its  leaves  so  vex- 
ingly  in  the  breeze  that  the  girl  moved  with  a 
little  exclamation  of  impatience  to  close  the  door 
of  the  saloon,  which  stood  always  open  as  though 
in  token  of  the  ever  ready  welcome  which  Rose 
mary  offered  to  all  comers.  As  she  rose  from  the 
spinet,  one  could  see  that  the  maid's  height  was 
above  the  common.  Long  of  limb  was  she,  with 
the  lithe,  far-reaching  stride  of  some  wild  thing  of 
the  forest  who  had  never  learned  the  mincing  gait 
of  the  civilized  world. 

14 


Penelope. 

It  seemed  a  pity  thus  to  shut  out  the  jocund 
sunlight  which  had  played  so  merrily  through  the 
room ;  but  the  music  fluttered  no  more,  and  the  girl 
turned  the  leaves  at  her  leisure  as  she  tried  the 
sweet  old  tunes.  In  her  clear,  youthful,  unimpas- 
sioned  voice  she  sang  of  the  loves  of  Corydon  and 
Phyllis,  of  the  faithful  affection  of  Prettye  Bessie, 
of  Barbara  Allen's  cruelty,  and  of  the  shrouded 
lover  who  once  went  in  cockle  hat  and  sandal 
shoon. 

"  Ah,"  cried  she  at  last,  "  I  have  found  it.  Be- 
shrew  me  if  I  do  not  learn  it  against  my  father's 
home-coming,  for  he  doth  much  affect  it.  Hearken," 
she  said,  shaking  her  finger  playfully  at  the  white 
dove  which  had  flown  in  from  the  porch  as  she 
closed  the  door  and  now  sat  perched  upon  her 
shoulder,  —  *'  hearken  and  peck  me  if  I  do  not  sing 
it  straight. 

" '  Over  the  mountains  and  over  the  waves, 
Under  the  fountains  and  under  the  graves, 
Under  floods  that  are  deepest  which  Neptune  obey, 
Over  rocks  that  are  steepest,  Love  will  find  out  the  way.' " 

"  Thump  /     Thump  !     Thump  !  " 

The  wrought-iron  knocker  on  the  closed  door 
broke  in  rudely  upon  the  sweet  strains  of  the  song 
as  it  thundered  its  announcement  of  a  visitor,  and 
a  visitor  in  haste.  The  sudden  noise  sent  the 

15 


White  Aprons. 

white  dove  fluttering  up  among  the  beams  of  the 
timbered  ceiling,  and  brought  the  maiden  to  her 
feet. 

"  Pomp,  where  are  you  ?  Some  one  waits  at  the 
door." 

Silence  reigned  in  answer  to  the  call  of  the 
young  voice;  and  as  the  heavy  ring  fell  again 
upon  the  unfeeling  breast  of  the  iron  lion,  the  door 
was  flung  back,  and  Penelope  Payne  stood  in  the 
doorway  framed  in  like  a  picture  with  a  back 
ground  of  panelled  wall.  Like  some  stately  god 
dess  she  seemed  to  the  eyes  of  the  stranger,  and 
a  not  too  friendly  divinity  either,  if  one  might 
judge  from  the  curling  lip  and  the  disdainful  eye 
which  fell  on  the  green  cockade  in  the  hat  of  the 
young  man  before  her,  —  a  badge  which  marked 
him  as  an  officer  in  Bacon's  troops. 

"  I  crave  your  pardon  for  the  abruptness  of  my 
summons,"  said  the  soldier,  sweeping  the  floor  of 
the  porch  with  the  plumes  of  his  hat,  "  but  may 
I  ask  if  Mistress  Payne  be  at  home?" 

"  I  trust  I  impeach  not  the  hospitality  of  our 
house  when  I  make  answer  that  my  mother  is 
never  at  home  to  rebels." 

Straight  and  tall  and  white  she  stood  as  she 
flung  him  back  this  answer.  Only  an  angry  spot 
of  red  showed  in  either  cheek,  and  the  eyes 
16 


Penelope. 

that  had  been  soft  and  tender  grew  dark  and 
stormy. 

"  I  grieve  the  more  over  your  inhospitable  mood 
that  I  find  myself  compelled  to  intrude  without 
your  permission,  since  I  am  ordered  by  General 
Bacon  to  find  Mistress  Payne  and  bring  her  with  all 
despatch  to  his  camp  at  Green  Spring,  where  she 
will  find  Madam  Ballard  and  other  neighbors  await 
ing  her  arrival.  I  was  ordered  to  fetch  Mistress 
Wormley  also,  but  I  found  her  too  ill  to  leave 
her  home." 

The  girl's  lip  curled  more  than  before  as  she 
answered  :  "  'T  is  like  your  brave  general  to  wage 
war  against  women.  Knowing  that  my  father  was 
gone  to  join  Governor  Berkeley  at  Jamestown,  he 
felt  sure  of  finding  us  defenceless.  Methinks,  under 
the  circumstances,  one  gallant  officer  might  have 
sufficed  to  do  his  errand ;  but  I  see  you  have  brought 
four  men  with  ye,  to  be  your  guard  against  two 
women." 

The  young  man  flushed  and  would  have  spoken  ; 
but  ere  he  could  find  words,  the  girl  continued :  "  I 
pray  you  of  your  courtesy  to  make  known  to  us 
for  what  purpose  our  presence  is  desired  by  Gen 
eral  Bacon.  Hath  he  sent  for  us  to  teach  him 
manners,  the  which,  if  what  is  said  of  him  be  true, 
he  hath  great  need  to  learn  ?  " 

2  17 


White  Aprons. 

"I  fear  I  must  consent  to  share  that  lack  of 
courtesy  you  do  impute  to  him  when  I  reply  that 
it  was  not  your  presence,  but  that  of  your  mother, 
which  I  am  ordered  to  secure,  and  that  I  am  com 
manded  to  give  no  whys  or  wherefores. " 

"  How  now,  Penelope !  Who  is  this  you  keep 
standing  thus  without  ?  Was  ever  guest  permitted 
to  tarry  on  the  porch  of  Rosemary  Hall,  un wel 
comed  to  all  within  ? :> 

As  she  spoke  these  words,  the  lady  whom  Major 
Fairfax  had  come  to  seek  appeared  in  the  door 
way.  He  felt  of  a  sudden  ashamed  of  his  errand, 
as  he  saw  the  placid  motherly  face  beaming  with 
friendly  welcome,  and  the  gentle  little  hand  held 
out  heartily  to  the  stranger.  The  eyesight  of 
Madam  Payne,  less  keen  than  that  of  her  daughter, 
saw  in  the  young  man  before  her  only  a  traveller, 
come,  after  the  good  old  fashion  of  Virginia,  to 
seek  a  night's  shelter.  Her  daughter  made  answer 
bitterly :  "  This  is  no  guest,  mother,  but  an  enemy, 
come  in  the  name  of  Nathaniel  Bacon  to  take  us 
prisoners,  and  bring  us  to  his  general." 

"  Nay,  not  you,"  interrupted  the  officer. 

"  I  go  with  my  mother,"  quoth  the  young  god 
dess,  looming  taller  and  grander  than  ever. 

"  So  be  it,"  replied  Fairfax,  shrugging  his  shoul 
ders.  "  Such  be  not  my  orders,  but  I  will  not  say 
18 


Penelope. 

you  'nay;'  only  I  pray  you  make  haste,  for  we 
must  be  at  Green  Spring  ere  nightfall." 

"  Penelope,"  said  Madam  Payne,  with  a  wonder 
ful  dignity  and  serenity,  "  let  us  not  wonder  that 
this  rebel  general,  who  respects  not  lawful  authority, 
should  respect  no  more  the  claims  of  womanhood. 
Let  us  go,  since  go  we  must,  with  a  courage  which 
shall  not  put  your  father's  name  to  shame.  Prithee, 
sir,"  she  added,  turning  toward  Fairfax,  "  lead  on ; 
we  await  your  commands." 

"  I  do  assure  you,  Madam  Payne,  it  grieves  me 
more  to  command  than  it  can  you  to  obey.  As 
for  what  I  spake  of  haste  just  now  't  was  not  to  be 
pushed  so  far.  I  can  readily  grant  you  time  for 
the  donning  of  cloak  and  hood  and  safeguard." 

"  Not  so,"  said  the  girl,  with  the  petulance  of 
youth,  which  next  to  its  own  way  most  ardently 
cherishes  a  love  of  martyrdom.  "  Since  we  ride 
not  of  our  free  will,  we  will  make  no  preparations. 
Ye  must  needs  take  us  as  we  are." 

"  Come,  then,  my  daughter,"  said  her  mother, 
passing  her  arm  through  that  of  Penelope,  "let  us 
tarry  no  longer,  for  the  day  is  far  spent,  and  we 
must  not  put  this  gentleman  to  inconvenience." 

Fairfax  looked  swiftly  at  her,  suspicious  of  irony ; 
but  her  face  was  calm  and  undisturbed.  She  and 
her  daughter  moved  slowly  down  the  garden  path 

19 


White  Aprons. 

between  the  low  hedges.  As  they  passed  a  bed  of 
rosemary,  Penelope  paused,  and  stooping,  plucked 
a  scarlet  cluster,  which  she  thrust  into  the  bosom  of 
her  dress.  A  single  tear  fell  upon  it.  "  Alas," 
said  she  to  her  mother,  "  't  is  all  of  Rosemary  that 
we  can  carry  with  us." 

"  Nay,  my  daughter,  for  we  may  take  also  that 
faith  and  fortitude  which  have  builded  Rosemary 
thus,  as  'twere  in  the  wilderness,  and  which  are  our 
best  stay  in  these  troublous  times." 

The  fusileers  presented  arms  in  token  of  re 
spect  as  the  women  passed  them;  but  one  being 
over  slow,  the  Major  struck  him  with  the  flat  of 
his  sword.  "  Next  time,"  cried  he  angrily,  *•  know 
enough  to  show  respect  for  your  betters,  all  the 
more  when  they  are  in  misfortune,  and  especially 
to  these  ladies  whom  General  Bacon  hath  com 
manded  to  be  treated  with  all  consideration." 

At  the  gate  which  opened  upon  the  highroad, 
two  led  horses,  one  of  which  had  been  designed 
for  Mistress  Wormley,  were  in  waiting,  and  on 
these  the  ladies  were  mounted,  disdaining  any  help 
save  from  their  own  servants,  who  had  followed 
them  to  the  gate  in  a  sorrowful  procession. 

"  Pompey,"  said  Madam  Payne  to  the  gray-haired 
negro  who  stood  at  her  stirrup,  "  I  charge  you 
keep  all  here  in  my  absence  as  safe  as  the  lawless- 

20 


Penelope. 

ness  around  us  doth  permit.  Listen,  Hannibal, 
and  you,  Polly,  and  all  the  rest:  I  have  put  all 
matters  into  the  hands  of  Pompey,  and  you  are 
to  obey  him  faithfully." 

"Yes,  Missus." 

"  De  Lawd  hab  mercy." 

"  What  am  a-gwine  ter  happen  ?  " 

Amid  such  wails  as  these  the  procession  moved 
away  from  the  gates  of  Rosemary,  Penelope  ever 
and  anon  turning  back  for  one  more  look  at  the 
dear  old  house  standing  solitary  and  deserted  in 
the  slant  light  of  the  afternoon  sun. 

To  outward  eye  it  was  a  gay  little  cavalcade  that 
moved  forward  along  the  sandy  road  under  the 
fragrant  pine-trees  this  soft  summer  day ;  for  the 
outward  eye  takes  no  note  of  hatred  and  bitter 
ness  and  all  the  seething  passions  that  disturb  the 
soul.  All  that  a  bystander  would  have  observed 
was  a  couple  of  ladies  out  for  a  ride  with  their 
escort,  which  the  warlike  time  no  doubt  made 
necessary. 

In  front  rode  two  of  the  fusileers,  their  weapons 
clanking  against  their  saddles.  Next  came  the 
dame  and  damsel  in  their  singular  riding-dress  of 
lawn  and  lace  and  flowered  chintz.  This  strange 
attire  might  have  caused  a  smile  in  one  given  to 
seeing  the  comic  side  of  life,  as  Fairfax  had  ever 

21 


White  Aprons. 

been ;  but  now,  as  he  rode  behind  them,  he  felt  only 
a  sense  of  inward  confusion  and  vexation. 

"  'Sdeath,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  I  would  our 
general  had  commissioned  Lawrence,  or  Drummond, 
or  any  but  me  on  this  errand.  A  war  with  women 
hath  naught  of  credit  in  it.  If  they  conquer, 
a  man  is  a  fool ;  if  he  conquer,  he  is  a  brute,  or 
feeleth  himself  such,  as  I  do  now." 

"  Here,  you,"  he  called  to  one  of  the  men  riding 
in  the  rear,  "  dismount  and  pluck  me  off  that  bough 
of  alder  yonder  by  the  brook,  — yea,  that  one  which 
hath  the  thickest  covering  of  leaves.  Now  strip 
off  the  knots  and  roughness  of  the  stem, —  so;  'tis 
well." 

When  he  had  two  boughs  prepared  thus  to  his 
liking,  he  called  aloud  to  those  in  front  to  come  to 
a  halt.  All  four  horses  stood  still.  The  fusileers 
looked  back,  but  the  women  deigned  not  to  turn 
their  heads.  Leaping  from  his  horse,  Fairfax 
walked  forward,  and,  stepping  between  the  ladies, 
proffered  each  a  bough,  that  their  eyes  might  be 
shielded  from  the  rays  of  the  western  sun  which 
fell  full  in  their  faces  as  they  journeyed. 

The  girl  tossed  her  branch  contemptuously  into 
the  dust,  saying  as  she  did  so,  "  I  accept  neither 
shade  nor  shelter  from  the  hand  of  a  traitor." 

But  her  mother  chid  her,  saying:  "Thou  art 

22 


Penelope. 

wrong,  my  daughter.  Remember  the  conduct  of 
the  martyred  king,  who  recognized  every,  even  the 
least,  courtesy,  though  'twas  offered  him  at  the 
foot  of  the  scaffold,  considering  what  was  due  to 
himself  rather  than  what  was  due  to  his  enemies. 
I  thank  you,  sir,"  she  added,  turning  toward  Fair 
fax  ;  and  thenceforward  she  rode  beneath  the  green 
shade  of  the  alder  bough. 

After  this  they  went  on  in  silence,  save  for  such 
sound  as  the  song  of  the  birds  in  the  trees, 
or  the  crackle  of  breaking  branches  when  some 
startled  animal  scurried  into  hiding.  Major  Fair 
fax  rode  with  slackened  bridle  a  dozen  paces 
behind  the  women  folk,  looking  now  at  the  head 
beneath  the  green  shade,  then  at  the  rebellious  one 
beside  it  crowned  with  red-brown  hair  which  fell  in 
soft  curls  about  the  shoulders.  Of  the  face  Fair 
fax  could  gain  no  glimpse ;  for  it  never  turned  itself 
by  so  much  as  an  inch  to  right  or  left.  At  length, 
for  lack  of  better  companionship,  Fairfax  bent  over 
the  neck  of  his  mare,  and  fell  to  talking  softly  in  her 
ear,  —  a  trick  he  had  learned  through  riding  alone, 
boy  and  man,  in  the  forest  at  home.  The  hunts 
man  were  solitary  indeed  if  he  did  not  make  friends 
of  his  horse  and  his  dog. 

"  I  tell  ye,  Peggy,"  quoth  her  rider,  "  you  females 
are  strange  beings.  You  will  sacrifice  the  real 

23 


White  Aprons. 

thing  for  the  show,  all  of  you.  Yes,  Peggy,  'tis 
vain  to  shake  your  head.  'T  is  true,  ye  jade,  and 
you  know  it.  Why,  I  have  seen  you  go  shying  and 
curveting  past  a  brushwood  fire  by  the  roadside, 
quite  content  to  pass,  if  only  you  could  make  your 
rider  uneasy  lest  he  find  himself  on  his  back  in  the 
road.  'T  is  even  so  with  women.  Now  perchance 
you,  being  of  the  same  sex,  can  tell  me  why  yonder 
haughty  minx  must  needs  make  herself  so  unpleasant 
in  the  doing  of  that  which  she  knows  must  be  done. 
Had  she  been  a  man  that  met  my  courtesy  after 
such  unhandsome  fashion,  I  would  have  run  her 
through  with  my  sword ;  but  because  she  is  a 
woman  forsooth,  I  must  pocket  the  affront  and  be 
cap  in  hand  to  her  Highness.  I  swear,  Peggy,  'tis 
passing  hard.  Were  it  not  for  her  mother  I  would 
give  myself  scant  pains  to  be  civil ;  but  for  Madam 
Payne,  she  hath  not  only  disarmed  me,  but  armed 
me  in  her  service." 

Near  in  body  but  far  apart  in  soul,  the  riders 
moved  along  thus,  each  busy  with  his  own  thoughts 
and  recking  little  of  those  of  the  others.  The  sun 
was  already  set  and  the  shades  of  evening  were 
deepening  when  at  length  they  drew  rein  before 
the  gates  of  Green  Spring.  Here  they  were 
stopped  by  a  cry  of  "  Halt !  "  and  the  question, 
"Who  goes  there?" 

24 


Penelope. 

"  Friends,"  answered  Fairfax. 

"Advance,  and  give  the  countersign,"  said  the 
voice  from  the  darkness. 

44  Right  and  our  rights." 

"  Pass  on,"  said  the  sentry,  as  he  swung  the  gate 
open. 

The  horses,  worn  with  their  long  journey  through 
the  heat,  stumbled  slowly  up  the  winding  road. 
Madam  Payne  thought  sadly  of  the  first  time  she  had 
ridden  beneath  those  trees,  —  the  evening  of  the 
ball  given  by  the  Governor  in  honor  of  the  restora 
tion  of  King  Charles  II.  to  the  throne  of  England. 
But  what  a  change  had  come  over  Green  Spring 
since  that  joyful  night !  Then  every  window  was 
ablaze  with  candles,  and  lanterns  twinkled  from 
every  tree.  Now  the  woods  were  as  dark  as  the 
times,  and  not  a  light  glimmered  from  the  close- 
barred  windows.  Not  one,  did  I  say?  Yes,  a 
single  lamp  gave  a  feeble  brightness  to  the  porch, 
and  by  its  light  Madam  Payne  could  see  a  man 
standing  on  the  steps  to  receive  them.  It  needed 
not  the  lace  upon  his  coat  to  proclaim  him  a  man 
of  rank.  The  women  knew  at  once  that  they  were 
in  the  presence  of  the  rebel  general,  Nathaniel 
Bacon. 

"Thou  art  late  with  thine  escort,  Fairfax.  Han- 
ford  is  already  come  with  Dame  Ballard  and  Dame 

25 


White  Aprons. 

Bray.  Hadst  them  tarried  much  longer  I  must 
needs  have  sent  in  search  of  thee,  fearing  thou 
hadst  been  captured  by  the  enemy  or  fallen  into 
some  ambush  of  Berkeley's." 

"Sir  William  Berkeley,"  said  a  woman's  voice 
from  the  darkness,  "  fights  not  in  ambush  but  on  the 
open  field,  and  being  himself  a  gentleman,  he  could 
not  dream  that  defenceless  women  were  being 
torn  from  their  homes  and  stood  in  need  of  his 
protection." 

At  the  first  words  General  Bacon  turned  his 
head,  and  peered  from  beneath  his  hand  into  the 
night.  At  the  word  gentleman  he  started  as  if 
stung,  then  commanded  himself,  and,  vouchsafing 
no  answer,  addressed  himself  once  more  to 
Fairfax. 

"  Major  Fairfax,  you  will  take  these  ladies  to  the 
dining-room,  where  supper  is  awaiting  them,  and 
where  they  will  find  their  friends  already  arrived." 

The  horses  moved  up  to  the  block,  and  Fairfax 
assisted  Madam  Payne  to  alight;  but  when  he  turned 
to  give  his  hand  to  her  daughter,  she  had  slipped 
from  the  saddle  and  passed  up  the  steps,  vouch 
safing  neither  word  nor  glance.  At  the  top  she 
paused,  her  slender  form  and  delicate  profile  out 
lined  against  the  light  in  the  hallway.  General 
Bacon  studied  her  closely  as  she  stood  thus. 
26 


Penelope. 

"  A  plague  on  Fairfax  !  "  he  muttered.  "  Why  did 
he  bring  this  shrewish  beauty  to  pester  us,  —  and 
without  orders  too  ?  'T  is  the  daughter  of  Mistress 
Payne  belike.  What  was  that  she  said  ?  *  He  being 
himself  a  gentleman  — '  Bah  !  none  can  fight 
battles  with  roses,  nor  run  governments  by  the 
golden  rule ;  no,  nor  play  the  gentleman  in  a  matter 
of  strategy  of  war.  Yet  I  would  it  had  not  been 
necessary." 

Turning  on  his  heel,  he  found  Fairfax  again  at 
his  side,  and  thrusting  his  arm  into  the  breast 
of  his  coat  he  drew  out  a  paper,  which  he  placed  in 
the  young  officer's  hand.  "  'T  is  your  orders  for 
to-morrow,  Major,"  he  said  ;  "study  them  well,  and 
fail  not  by  jot  or  tittle  in  their  fulfilment."  With 
this  he  turned  and  entered  the  house  with  heavy 
and  slow  step,  while  the  bugle  sounded  retreat  and 
night  fell  on  the  rebel  camp.  As  Fairfax  came  out 
of  the  doorway  on  his  way  to  his  tent,  he  saw  lying 
on  the  floor  of  the  porch  a  little  faded,  shrivelled 
bit  of  rosemary.  He  did  not  pick  it  up,  but  he  put 
it  gently  one  side  with  his  foot.  He  could  not 
quite  tread  on  it. 


27 


CHAPTER   II. 

IN   CAMP. 

"  The  hum  of  either  army  stilly  sounds 
That  the  fixed  sentinels  almost  receive 
The  secret  whispers  of  each  other's  watch  ; 
Fire  answers  fire,  and  through  their  paly  flames 
Each  battle  sees  the  other's  umbered  face." 

TT  was  the  hour  before  dawn,  —  the  dreariest  hour 
•*•  of  the  twenty-four,  the  period  when  the  vitality 
of  the  world  is  at  its  lowest  ebb,  when  the  clock 
in  the  sick-room  ticks  slowest,  when  the  night-lamp 
flickers  before  expiring,  and  the  pulse  of  the  suf 
ferer  likewise  flickers,  and  perchance  goes  out,  be 
fore  day  rises  with  its  fresh  tide  of  life  and  vigor. 
Everything  about  the  plantation  of  Green  Spring 
this  morning  shared  the  tone  of  melancholy  and 
depression.  The  ghastly  sound  of  spades  grating 
against  fresh  earth,  and  of  dirt  falling  in  heavy 
thuds,  suggested  the  making  of  a  grave.  The 
constant  hammering  was  as  the  driving  of  nails  in 
a  coffin  or  the  rearing  of  a  scaffold.  Here  and 
28 


In  Camp. 

there  lanterns  flitted  to  and  fro,  and  voices,  sound 
ing  weird  and  strange,  called  to  each  other  across 
the  open  trench.  But  at  length,  in  contrast  to 
their  dimness,  a  quick,  decided  tone  was  heard 
uttering  orders  sharp  and  clear. 

"  Throw  up  the  breastworks  higher  on  the  side 
of  the  James  City  road !  Mount  another  gun  and 
train  it  on  the  river  !  You  fools !  waste  no  more 
time  upon  that  ditch  at  your  backs.  *T  is  not  the 
red  men  from  the  forest,  but  the  whites  from  the 
town,  that  we  must  fortify  against." 

As  the  eye  of  the  master  is  a  spur  in  the  side  of 
the  servant,  so  is  the  presence  of  the  leader  to  the 
soldier.  At  the  sound  of  Bacon's  voice  the  labor 
was  redoubled.  The  men  worked  like  beavers  in 
early  spring.  Swiftly  as  the  general  made  his 
rounds,  his  quick  eye  took  note  of  every  shovel 
and  every  man  holding  it. 

"  Perry,  you  look  ill.  Throw  down  that  spade 
and  get  you  to  bed.  Any  one  can  dig,  but  few  can 
fight  like  you;  and  we  shall  have  need  of  all  our 
good  fighters  ere  this  day  be  out." 

"  West,  I  need  not  oversee  the  setting  of  your 
gun.  Whate'er  you  do  is  well  done.  I  would  I 
had  a  regiment  of  such." 

Words  like  these  cost  little,  but  they  count  for 
much.  "  I  tell  thee,"  said  Perry  to  West  as  Bacon 
29 


White  Aprons. 

moved  on,  "  't  is  not  every  leader  who  doth  thus 
consider  the  private  soldier." 

"  Nay,  verily,"  answered  West ;  "  but  he  do  look 
upon  us  as  so  bound  up  with  him  that  our  good  or 
ill  is  in  truth  his  own." 

"  Ay,  we  must  all  make  common  cause  else  are 
we  lost,  and  that  speedily.  But  lost  or  saved,  I 
for  one  grieve  not  that  we  have  taken  up  arms. 
Methinks  we  stood  still  too  long,  seeing  our  crops 
stolen  and  our  houses  burned  by  those  marauding 
Indians,  and  all  because  of  this  rusty,  crusty  old 
Governor,  who  has  cheated  the  grave-digger  when 
he  should  have  been  under  ground  these  ten  years. 
Because  this  dotard  sees  fit  to  refuse  us  permission 
to  fight,  shall  we  submit  ?  Faith,  't  is  asking  too 
much  of  human  nature.  We  were  worse  than 
cowards  did  we  flinch,  most  of  all  when  heaven 
sends  such  a  man  as  Nathaniel  Bacon  to  lead  us." 

"  Ay,  he  was  born  with  a  lucky  star ;  and  be  we 
but  faithful,  it  shall  shine  on  our  fortunes  as  well." 

Meanwhile,  Bacon  himself  was  walking  on,  re 
flecting  with  no  such  cheerful  assurance  on  the 
future.  Thus  far,  to  be  sure,  all  had  gone  well 
beyond  his  hopes,  until  now  the  strange  chances  of 
war  had  fixed  his  headquarters  here  at  Green 
Spring,  Sir  William  Berkeley's  plantation,  which  on 
this  September  morning,  in  the  year  sixteen  hun- 

30 


In  Camp. 

dred  and  seventy-six,  he  was  strengthening  with 
earthworks  and  fortifying  with  guns,  to  receive 
the  expected  visit  from  its  owner.  So  far,  well ; 
but  who  should  say  what  this  day  now  dawning 
might  bring  forth?  Berkeley  was  encamped  at 
Jamestown,  only  four  miles  away,  with  a  force  which 
outnumbered  his  three  to  one,  and  it  was  an  open 
secret  that  the  Governor  intended  to  attack  this 
very  morning. 

"  Time,"  muttered  Bacon,  talking  to  himself  as 
he  walked,  according  to  his  wont,  —  "  time  is  all  I 
ask.  Were  Berkeley  shrewd  enough  to  make  a 
night  attack,  as  I  would  have  done  in  his  place, 
our  game  were  up ;  but  my  spy  says  the  attack  is 
planned  for  seven  o'  the  clock.  'T  is  too  early  for 
my  taste.  Let  my  earthworks  but  be  finished  and 
my  guns  set,  I  will  promise  them  a  welcome  shall 
send  them  back  howling  like  whipped  curs  to 
Jamestown.  But  we  cannot  hope  to  have  all  in 
readiness  till  high  noon.  What  then  ?  Why,  the 
fox's  craft  must  eke  out  the  lion's  courage.  Yet 
I  own  I  like  it  not.  It  savors  too  much  of  Law 
rence's  subtlety;  and  then,  should  aught  befall 
these  women,  not  even  the  success  of  our  cause 
could  console  me.  I  swear  I  like  it  not." 

With  this  Bacon  began  gnawing  at  his  musta- 
chio  (a  sure  sign  of  vexation  of  spirit  in  him),  and 


White  Aprons. 

stood  still,  a  heavy  frown  gathering  on  his  brow,  till 
of  a  sudden  he  caught  sight  of  Fairfax  marching 
toward  the  stables,  swinging  his  lantern  and  trol 
ling  as  he  strode  along  in  gay,  careless  soldier 
fashion : — 

"Jog  on,  jog  on  the  footpath  way, 
And  merrily  hent  the  stile-a. 
Your  merry  heart  goes  all  the  day, 
Your  sad  tires  in  a  mile-a." 

"  Bless  the  lad !  "  cried  Bacon,  a  smile  breaking 
over  his  gloom,  "'tis  not  the  first  time  he  hath 
cheered  me.  The  sunshine  of  his  nature  hath 
somewhat  of  contagion  in  't.  Moreover  he  is  the 
trustiest  man  in  all  my  following,  and  of  a  truth 
there  is  no  other  to  whom  I  would  have  committed 
the  delicate  business  of  the  care  of  these  women." 

It  was  with  a  lighter  heart  that  he  continued  his 
walk,  and  finally  mounted  the  steps  of  the  mansion 
and  flung  open  the  door  of  the  dining-room,  where 
his  officers  were  assembled  in  council  of  war  and 
impatiently  awaiting  his  coming.  The  table  around 
which  they  sat  was  of  oak,  heavily  carved  and  black 
with  age.  For  well-nigh  thirty  years  it  had  faith 
fully  served  Sir  William  Berkeley.  It  had  held 
up  his  viands,  and  sometimes  his  guests,  when  the 
good  Madeira  and  Fayal,  which  ever  flowed  bounti 
fully  at  Green  Spring,  had  mounted  to  the  gentle- 

32 


In   Camp. 

men's  heads.  This  same  table  had  borne  patiently 
many  a  resounding  blow  from  Sir  William's  fist, 
when  after  dinner  he  had  called  his  friends  to  order 
and  cried  out :  "  Now,  gentlemen,  one  last  toast, 
and  we  will,  if  you  please,  drink  it  standing  —  *  God 
save  His  Majesty  King  Charles  ! '  " 

If  wood  can  feel  (and  who  shall  say  otherwise  ?) 
this  stanch  loyalist  table  must  have  trembled  with 
wrath  to  feel  itself  now  surrounded  by  rebels  plan 
ning  war  against  its  owner,  —  and  indeed  it  did  seem 
to  creak,  as  if  in  an  agony  of  apprehension,  when 
General  Bacon,  striding  abruptly  into  the  room, 
unbuckled  his  sword  and  threw  it  clanking  down 
upon  the  table,  and  at  the  same  time  rapped  heavily 
upon  its  carven  edge. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  he,  peering  through  the 
half  light  at  the  tall  Dutch  clock  in  the  corner,  "  it 
wants  but  three  hours  of  seven  o'clock,  —  the  hour 
when  the  spy  (and  I  think  he  is  trustworthy) 
informs  me  Lord  Berkeley  has  planned  his  attack. 
We  have  time,  but  none  to  waste.  Fairfax,"  he 
added,  turning  to  the  young  man  who  stood  in 
the  doorway  about  to  enter,  "are  the  horses 
saddled  ?  " 

"  Yes,  General." 

"  And  the  lady  called  ?  " 

"  No,  for  you  named  her  not." 

3  33 


White  Aprons. 

"  True  —  true  —  I  did  put  off  the  decision  — 
plague  on  my  vacillation!  Let  me  see,  which 
shall  it  be?  Which  shall  it  be  ?  Not  Dame  Bal- 
lard,  for  her  tongue  is  too  blunt ;  not  my  kinswoman 
Dame  Bacon,  for  her  temper  is  too  sharp.  Not 
Madam  Payne,  for  she  is  too  fine  a  woman  to  suffer 
aught  of  discourtesy  which  can  be  avoided.  I 
have  it.  It  shall  be  her  daughter. 

"  Major  Fairfax,  call  Mistress  Penelope  Payne 
(so  I  think  she  is  named)  ;  and  that  her  mother 
may  endure  no  apprehension  on  her  behalf,  inform 
Madam  Payne  that  her  daughter  is  to  be  sent  with 
an  escort  to  James  City,  bearing  a  message  to  her 
father  and  Governor  Berkeley." 

The  young  officer  bowed  and  withdrew.  Sooth 
to  say  he  liked  his  errand  little,  and  the  more  he 
thought  of  it  the  less  he  liked  it.  More  reluc 
tantly  than  he  would  have  approached  a  frowning 
fortress  did  he  mount  the  winding  stairs,  and  draw 
near  the  chamber  door,  before  which  a  sentry, 
stiff  and  still  as  a  wooden  soldier,  was  keeping 
guard. 

Fairfax  rapped  sharply  against  the  panel,  and  as 
the  echo  fell  upon  his  ear,  it  recalled  the  indignant 
apparition  which  his  knock  at  the  door  of  Rose 
mary  Hall  had  called  up,  and  he  would  rather 
have  faced  Berkeley's  batteries  than  this  young 
34 


In   Camp. 

fury.  But  a  true  hero  will  not  flinch,  even  before 
a  woman;  and  Fairfax  stood  his  ground. 

His  rapping  roused  the  five  women  within  the 
chamber.  In  fact,  they  needed  little  rousing,  for 
their  slumbers  had  been  brief  and  fitful.  Most 
of  them  reclined  on  arm-chairs  and  couches,  with 
which  the  luxurious  taste  of  Lady  Berkeley  had 
supplied  the  room.  Mistress  Ballard,  however, 
whose  hair-dressing  was  the  admiration  of  the 
colony,  —  a  miracle  of  taste,  labor,  and  ingenuity, 
—  unwilling  to  risk  its  destruction,  was  sitting  bolt 
upright  in  a  stiff,  high-backed  chair,  the  cherished 
locks  carefully  supported  by  its  cross-bar. 

"What  is  wanted?"  she  called  aloud  in  answer 
to  the  summons. 

"  I  must  beg  of  you  to  open  the  door  at  your 
earliest  convenience,"  said  the  voice  of  Fairfax 
outside.  "  I  must  see  you,  that  I  may  the  better 
explain  my  errand.  General  Bacon  desires  the 
attendance  of  one  of  your  number  in  the  dining- 
room  below,  where  he  and  his  officers  be  now 
assembled." 

"  Good  Lord ! "  cried  Madam  Ballard,  "  I  hope 
it  's  not  me  that 's  wanted.  I  am  such  a  fright 
before  breakfast!  I  was  in  such  a  flutter  when 
they  fetched  me  from  the  plantation  that  I  be 
thought  me  not  to  take  with  me  my  powder  puff, 

35 


White  Aprons. 

nor  my  rouge  ball,  nor  even  my  eye-brow  stick ;  and 
there  was  my  cramoisie  stomacher  lying  new  in  my 
drawer  and  I  never  fetched  it.  Not  that  it  mat 
ters;  but  one  would  not  wish  to  appear  before 
gentlemen,  rebels  though  they  be,  in  such  a  plight. 
'T  is  one  thing  not  to  think  well  of  men,  but 't  is 
quite  another  not  to  wish  them  to  think  well 
of  me." 

"  Ha,  my  lady,"  thought  Fairfax,  "  I  have  your 
gauge  ;  but  methinks  you  are  likely  this  day  to  forget 
even  your  vanity." 

"  Sure  the  summons  cannot  be  for  me,"  said  the 
voice  of  Dame  Bray,  who  scarce  bestirred  herself 
to  turn  toward  the  door,  but  lay  yawning  and 
spreading  her  much-ringed  fingers  before  her 
sleepy  eyes.  "  Master  Bacon  has  visited  in  my 
house,  and  he  knows  I  never  rise  before  noon. 
Why,  I  would  not  have  a  negar  called  at  this 
hour." 

"  I  only  hope  I  am  the  one,"  snapped  little 
Madam  Bacon.  "  I  crave  naught  more  than  the 
chance  to  speak  my  mind  to  Nat."  The  spiteful 
sparkle  in  the  lady's  eyes  and  the  tightening  of  her 
thin  lips  indicated  that  the  piece  of  her  mind 
which  she  contemplated  bestowing  on  her  kinsman 
would  be  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. 

"  I  have  often  told  my  husband,"  she  continued, 

36 


In  Camp. 

speaking  high  and  shrill,  "  that  he  was  nourishing 
a  viper  in  his  bosom  ;  and  now  when  this  treacher 
ous  villain  has  put  me  to  death,  I  shall  have  the 
comfort  of  knowing  what  I  said  hath  come  true. 
Ladies,"  she  added  solemnly,  "  if  any  of  you  should 
chance  to  survive  me,  I  would  have  you  see  to  it 
that  '  I  told  you  so '  is  inscribed  upon  my  grave 
stone." 

The  handle  of  the  chamber  door  was  shaken 
impatiently.  "  I  prithee,  ladies,  make  greater  haste, 
for  I  must  enter,  and  that  speedily.  Time  is  pre 
cious,  and  I  can  waste  no  more.  Besides,  you  are 
throwing  away  your  words ;  for  it  is  none  of  you  who 
are  wanted  below,  but  Mistress  Penelope  Payne." 

"  At  your  service,"  cried  that  young  woman, 
flinging  the  door  wide,  though  her  mother  clung  to 
her,  saying  over  and  over  in  tones  pathetically 
tremulous,  "  Oh,  no  —  not  her  —  not  her —  I  pray 
you,  sir,  take  me" 

"Madam  Payne,"  said  Fairfax,  entering,  and 
bowing  low  to  each  lady  in  turn,  but  lowest  and 
with  most  reverence  to  her  whom  he  addressed, 
"  suffer  not  the  least  apprehension.  General 
Bacon  is,  as  you  all  know,  and  in  spite  of  all  ill 
spoke  against  him,  a  man  of  his  word,  and  he  bids 
me  assure  you  that  your  daughter  shall  come  to  no 
harm.  He  doth  but  intend  to  send  her  under  safe 

37 


White  Aprons. 

escort  to  James  City,  bearing  a  message  to  Gov 
ernor  Berkeley,  to  which  —  so  at  least  our  General 
thinks  —  he  will  pay  the  more  heed  that  it  comes 
from  one  of  his  own  party." 

At  these  words  the  older  woman  relaxed  her 
eager  clasp,  though  the  anxiety  cleared  not  alto 
gether  from  her  brow.  Penelope,  with  that  light 
ness  of  heart  with  which  youth  doth  ever  enter  on 
untried  adventure,  turned  from  one  to  the  other  of 
her  companions  and  cried  almost  mirthfully :  "  Fare 
ye  well,  friends,  though  I  trust  but  for  a  time.  I  will 
bear  in  mind  all  ye  have  said  when  I  am  yonder  at 
James  City.  Madam  Ballard,  I  will  strive  to  sup 
ply  the  necessaries  of  your  toilet  if  I  have  luck  to 
find  them,  that  you  may  not  change  color  in  the 
face  of  danger.  Madam  Bray,  I  will  report  having 
seen  you  as  none  ever  did  before,  —  awake  ere  dawn. 
Mistress  Bacon,  I  will  assure  your  husband  on 
your  own  authority  that  he  hath  cherished  a  viper 
in  his  bosom.  For  you,  Madam  Mother,  since  you 
never  crave  aught  for  yourself,  I  know  not  what  I 
can  promise  save  to  bring  you  back  in  safety  that 
worthless  baggage,  your  daughter,  and  to  say  to 
my  father  that  you  do  continue  to  be  yourself,  — 
and  that  is  the  tenderest  mother  and  faithfullest 
wife,  the  loyallest  subject,  and  most  foolishly  for 
giving  enemy  in  the  province." 
38 


In  Camp. 

With  this  she  swept  a  wide  courtesy,  and  fold 
ing  her  mother  in  her  arms  kissed  her  on  both 
cheeks. 

"  Here  is  one,"  quoth  Fairfax  to  himself,  "  who 
knows  no  measure  either  in  loving  or  hating.  Per 
chance  'tis  a  pleasing  nature  to  one  at  the  right 
end  of  the  gun,  but  to  me,  at  the  muzzle  of  her  dis 
pleasure,  'tis  a  very  vicious  and  altogether  con- 
demnable  character." 

The  only  vent  of  his  reflections  was  in  the  tone 
of  impatience  which  marked  his  next  words : 
"  Come,  madam  !  " 

"Go  on,  sir,  and  I  will  follow,  as  a  captive 
should." 

"  Pardon  me,  but  your  place,  both  as  a  captive 
and  a  lady,  is  in  front." 

Not  another  word  uttered  My  Lady  Disdain  as 
she  swept  down  the  dark  hall.  Fairfax,  following, 
felt  himself  a  belated  Douglas  with  another  captive 
queen  on  his  hands.  This  princess  knew  so  little 
of  the  humility  demanded  of  a  prisoner  that  she 
entered  the  dining-room  with  as  high  a  mien  as 
though  she  were  lady  of  the  manor,  and  these  her 
retainers  awaiting  her  pleasure.  Her  eye  swept 
rapidly  over  the  circle  of  men  gathered  about  the 
table,  whose  polished  top  reflected  their  faces  in 
grotesque  foreshortening.  They  were  marked  faces 

39 


White  Aprons. 

all,  and  more  marked  than  ever  now,  as  the  dim 
light  of  early  dawn  fell  grayly  on  their  features. 

In  the  centre  of  the  group,  in  a  high  arm-chair 
carved  with  heavy  lion's  heads,  sat  General  Bacon, 
of  figure  indifferent  tall,  and  somewhat  over-slender 
for  a  man  in  perfect  health.  His  deep-set  eyes  and 
overhanging  brows  lent  to  his  countenance  an 
aspect  ominous,  pensive,  and  melancholy,  such  as 
marks  the  portrait  of  every  great  man  that  has 
come  down  to  us,  strive  as  the  painter  may  to  hide 
it  beneath  a  smiling  lip  or  triumphant  eye.  The 
peaked  beard  and  damp,  dark  hair  straggling  down 
across  the  high,  white  forehead  contributed  to  form 
a  strange  likeness  to  the  unfortunate  Charles,  —  a 
likeness  which  haunted  all  who  met  this  man,  and 
perchance  lent  something  to  the  magnetic  power  of 
his  personal  influence.  Here  was  a  king  by  divine 
right  indeed,  one  who  could  rule  the  minds  of 
men,  —  able  to  sway  states  to  mighty  issues.  None 
could  look  on  him  and  doubt  it,  though  the  choleric 
temper  which  showed  in  every  glance  of  that  quick 
eye  might  make  the  on-looker  question  whether 
here  lay  also  that  calm  judgment  and  far-reaching 
grasp  which  could  mould  events  as  well  as  stir  them. 

Next  to  Bacon  and  a  little  behind  him,  so  placed 
that  his  face  lay  in  shadow,  sat  the  subtle  Mr. 
Lawrence,  the  man  whose  counsels  had  turned  the 
40 


In  Camp. 

tide  of  opinion  on  a  doubtful  day  in  the  old  field 
by  the  shores  of  the  York  River.  His  elbow  rested 
on  the  table,  and  the  hand  on  which  his  chin  was 
propped  so  covered  the  close-shaven  mouth  that 
none  could  read  its  expression.  It  was  a  favorite 
attitude  with  him,  and  well  revealed  the  character 
of  the  man.  His  curious,  inscrutable  opaque  blue 
eyes,  which  saw  much  and  told  little,  were  fixed 
upon  the  girl  so  closely  that  in  spite  of  herself  her 
confidence  faltered  somewhat,  and  she  turned  her 
own  gaze  aside.  In  so  doing  it  fell  upon  the  figure 
of  a  young  man  at  the  farther  side  of  the  room. 
Little  enough  had  he,  one  would  have  said,  to 
merit  the  gathering  intensity  with  which  she  re 
garded  him.  His  loose  lips,  retreating  chin,  and 
shambling  limbs  marked  only  feebleness  of  will 
and  fickleness  of  purpose.  His  color  was  sallow, 
and  of  a  yellow  pallor  beneath  the  tan  which  the 
summer  suns  had  bestowed  upon  it;  but  now,  as 
Penelope  Payne  continued  that  fixed,  scornful  gaze, 
his  cheeks  became  dyed  with  a  deep,  painful  red, 
as  though  her  look  were  a  flame  which  burned  him 
through  and  through.  After  one  swift  glance  he 
had  cast  down  his  furtive  eyes ;  but  at  length  they 
rose  again  beneath  the  compelling  power  of  her 
gaze. 

"  You  —  here?" 


White  Aprons. 

These  were  all  the  words  she  said;  but  a  volume 
could  not  have  uttered  more  amazement  and  con 
tempt.  The  youth  writhed  on  his  chair  as  though 
it  had  been  a  pillory,  twisting  one  foot  about  the 
other  ankle,  then  untwining  it  and  shuffling  both 
feet  about  the  floor,  striving  all  the  time  to  find 
words,  till  at  last  in  very  pity  Mr.  Lawrence  was 
moved  to  speak  for  him. 

"  Yes,  Mistress  Payne,  your  cousin  has  of  late 
seen  the  business  of  this  controversy  so  clearly  that 
he  has  been  driven  by  reason  and  conscience  to 
join  himself  to  the  followers  of  General  Bacon.  I 
would  that  all  others  of  his  kin  might  show  them 
selves  so  wise  as  to  follow  his  good  example." 

"  Perchance,"  added  Bacon,  "  he  may  be  able  to 
convert  one  this  day.  'Tis  thy  cousin,  mistress, 
who  is  commissioned  to  be  thine  escort  to  James 
City ;  for  I  do  presume  it  will  meet  thy  wish  more 
nearly  to  have  him  than  a  stranger  to  bear  thee 
company." 

"  Nay,"  answered  the  girl,  "  spare  me  such  insult. 
Send  whom  you  will,  but  tie  not  my  bridle  rein  to 
that  of  a  Judas  !  " 

The  youth  cringed  as  though  a  lash  had  struck 
him.    There  are  whips  whose  whistle  is  never  heard 
in  the  air,  and  stripes  borne  for  life  that  no  out 
ward  eye  can  take  note  of. 
42 


In  Camp. 

"  Hard  words  those,  young  lady,"  quoth  one  who 
had  not  spoken  till  now.  "  May  not  a  man  claim 
freedom  to  join  one  side  or  the  other  as  he  sees  fit 
without  having  such  names  as  '  Judas  '  cast  upon 
him  ?  " 

"  Ay,  some  men  may,"  answered  Penelope,  never 
flinching ;  "  some  men,  but  not  Arthur  Thorn,  —  not 
he  whom  my  father  brought  up  under  his  own 
roof,  whom  my  mother  cherished  and  cared  for, 
and  who  not  six  months  since  prayed  me  to  accept 
the  precious  offering  of  his  heart  and  hand.  A 
fine  figure  he  doth  make  now,  forsooth,  driven  by 
his  reason  and  conscience  to  fight  against  his  bene 
factor,  to  imprison  the  woman  above  stairs  to 
whom  he  owes  everything,  and  to  ride  as  a  jailor 
beside  her  whom  half  a  year  ago  he  besought  to 
be  his  wife.1* 

An  awkward  silence  followed  these  scathing 
words.  At  length  Bacon  broke  it,  saying :  "  For 
your  private  grievances,  Mistress  Payne,  you  must 
e'en  find  private  settlement.  Our  minds  are  over 
full  of  public  matters  of  great  moment  to  permit  of 
our  entering  upon  a  trial  in  a  court  of  love." 

Penelope  bowed  haughtily  and  vouchsafed  no 
other  response.  After  a  moment  Bacon  continued  : 
"  I  sent  yesterday,  as  you  know,  to  secure  the  pres 
ence  in  camp  of  your  mother ;  and  though  I  did 

43 


White  Aprons. 

not  send  for  you,  and  Fairfax  unduly  exceeded  his 
commission  in  permitting  you  to  accompany  her, 
yet  now  am  I  well  content,  since  you,  better  per 
haps  than  any  other,  can  do  our  errand  in  yonder 
town." 

"  And  what  may  that  errand  be  ?  " 

"  All  in  good  time,  young  lady.  Permit  me  to 
speak  without  breaking  in  and  you  shall  the  sooner 
be  enlightened.  I  would  have  you  bear  word  to 
Governor  Berkeley  that  our  earthworks  are  not 
yet  finished,  and  that  we,  therefore,  request  him  of 
his  courtesy  to  make  no  attack  before  noon." 

Penelope's  short  lip  curled  shorter  than  ever. 
"  'T  is  little  ye  must  know  of  the  Governor's  nature 
that  ye  send  him  such  a  message  by  the  mouth  of 
a  maid.  Think  ye  he  will  come  cap  in  hand,  bow 
ing  low  and  saying  with  civil  flourishes :  '  Gentle 
men,  kindly  let  me  know  when  you  do  be  quite  in 
readiness,  that  I  may  move  upon  your  works  with 
all  ceremony'  ?  " 

The  mockery  of  the  tone  in  which  this  was 
uttered  brought  a  sullen  flush  to  Lawrence's  face. 

"Teach  the  minx  her  place!  "  he  whispered  in 
the  ear  of  his  chief;  but  Bacon  shook  his  head. 
"  Let  it  not  be  said,"  he  answered,  "  that  a  girl  hath 
power  to  vex  a  soldier."  Then  turning  once  more 
to  Penelope,  he  said  gravely,  yet  with  a  twinkle  in 
44 


In   Camp. 

his  solemn  eyes  which  was  like  sunshine  behind  a 
black  cloud :  "  From  what  I  do  know  of  Governor 
Berkeley,  I  should  expect  his  answer  to  be  so  little 
like  what  you  have  set  forth  that  it  might  be  quite 
unmeet  for  the  ear  of  a  lady." 

"  Ay,  I  will  answer  for  it  that  it  would,  and  more 
than  that,  —  it  would  be  delivered  by  the  cannons' 
mouth  rather  than  his  own." 

11  Of  a  truth  I  doubt  it  not.  'T  is  the  very  thing 
I  have  foreseen,  and  thereunto  have  we  taken  our 
precautions.  I  desire,  therefore,  that  with  your 
other  message  you  do  tell  His  Excellency  that  we 
have  decided  to  place  Madam  Ballard,  Madam 
Bacon,  and  Madam  Bray,  together  with  your  mother, 
in  front  of  our  fortifications  till  they  be  completed; 
and  say  to  him  that  we  trust  consideration  for  the 
safety  of  these  ladies,  if  not  for  our  wishes,  will  lead 
him  to  delay  his  untimely  advance." 

Penelope  Payne  grew  white,  and  seized  the  case 
ment  of  the  door;  but  her  spirit  did  not  quail. 

"  Cowards  !  "  she  cried,  facing  them  like  a  lioness 
at  bay,  "let  your  cause  win  or  lose,  it  shall  be  said 
of  you  far  and  wide  that  ye  were  poltroons  who 
dared  not  fight  like  men,  but  must  needs  shelter 
yourselves  behind  the  white  aprons  of  women." 

Bacon  in  his  turn  whitened  at  the  word  '  coward? 
But  Lawrence  muttered :  "  Parley  no  more  with 

45 


White  Aprons. 

the  saucy  baggage!  We  are  wasting  precious 
time.  Bid  her  be  off!" 

Bacon  had  rallied  ere  Lawrence  ceased  speak 
ing.  "  Major  Fairfax,"  he  said,  "  is  all  in  readi 
ness  ?  " 

"All  is  in  readiness." 

"  You  are  fully  armed  ?  " 

"  I  have  my  sword  and  pistols." 

"'Tis  well.  Whatever  haps  you  must  not  be 
taken  till  your  message  be  delivered.  My  orders 
are  that  you  accompany  this  young  lady  to  James 
City,  where,  having  said  her  say,  you  may  leave 
her  in  safety  among  her  friends." 

At  this  for  the  first  time  Penelope's  courage 
broke  down  utterly,  and  the  tears  ran  down  her 
pale  cheeks. 

"  Ah,  General,  you  are  strong ;  be  also  merciful ! 
Say  but  that  I  may  return  to  be  with  my  mother, 
and  forget  my  hasty  words  of  a  moment  since  !  " 

The  girl  would  fain  have  knelt  before  him,  but 
he  raised  her,  his  own  features  working  strongly 
with  emotion.  "Thou  art  a  brave  maid  and  a 
good  daughter,"  quoth  he,  "  and  thou  shalt  have 
thy  will.  If  thou  canst  persuade  thy  father  to  hear 
to  thy  return,  I  will  not  forbid  it.  But  now  to 
horse,  and  that  with  speed  ! " 

With  deep  respect  General  Bacon  led  Penelope 
46' 


In   Camp. 

to  the  door  and  set  her  upon  the  horse  which  had 
stood  tethered  to  a  tree  hard  by.  Fairfax  made 
her  stirrup  right  and  tightened  the  girth  of  her 
saddle.  So  they  set  forth,  thus  for  the  second 
time  within  twenty-four  hours  strangely  forced 
into  companionship. 

The  chipmunk  stopped  in  his  wild  gallop  up  and 
down  the  tree-trunk,  and  turned  his  head  to  watch 
them  passing,  till  his  little  black,  bead-like  eyes 
could  see  no  farther.  The  crested  bittern  flapped 
her  wings  in  friendly  fashion  over  their  heads,  and 
the  chattering  plover  gossiped  in  their  ears  the 
secrets  of  his  love,  as  though,  forsooth,  his  instinct 
were  gone  so  far  astray  as  to  tell  him  that  these 
two  were  lovers  with  hearts  in  tune  to  all  the  loves 
of  the  world  around  them.  Strange  sarcasm  of 
Fate !  While  these  human  beings  rode  on  sur 
rounded  by  joy,  and  love,  and  peace,  their  own 
souls  were  filled  with  thoughts  of  war,  and  hatred, 
and  bitterness. 

At  length,  heralded  by  the  bursting  forth  of  all 
nature  into  a  paean  of  song  and  bloom,  up  rose 
the  red  September  sun,  full  and  round  and  fiery, 
foretelling  another  day  of  heat  and  drouth. 

"  Methinks  the  earth  is  well-nigh  parched  for 
want  of  rain."  Fairfax  ventured  this  remark  as  one 
who  holds  out  an  olive  branch.  It  was  not  ac- 

47 


White  Aprons, 

cepted.  Mistress  Payne  but  held  her  head  the 
higher,  and  pressed  her  lips  the  closer,  and  strained 
her  eyes,  as  though  striving  to  catch  a  glimpse  of 
the  gates  of  James  City,  where  she  might  make  an 
end  of  his  hateful  guardianship. 

Fairfax  was  no  long-suffering  saint,  —  only  an 
honest  and  well-meaning  fellow,  with  a  great  rever 
ence  for  all  women,  and  a  mighty  tenderness  for 
one  in  misfortune.  Had  his  advance  been  more 
civilly  met,  he  would  have  been  glad  of  the  chance 
to  speak  his  sympathy ;  but  now  he  forced  it  all 
back,  and  told  himself  that  he  cared  not  a  farthing 
what  befell  this  lofty  young  woman,  who,  for  the 
matter  o'  that,  would  but  be  the  better  for  a  little 
humbling. 

Thus  they  rode  on  in  silence,  at  once  so  near 
together  and  so  far  asunder,  till  at  length  a  turn  in 
the  road  brought  Jamestown  full  in  view,  though 
distant  still  across  the  long,  fiat  reaches  of  Virginia 
marsh-land.  There  rose  the  tower  of  the  old 
church.  There  peeped  the  roof  of  the  powder 
magazine,  and  borne  to  them  on  the  still  morning 
air  came  the  shrilling  of  the  fife,  answered  by  the 
deep  rumbling  of  the  gruff  drum. 

**  Faith,"  thought  Fairfax,  "  we  are  arrived  none 
too  soon.  A  little  later  and  Berkeley's  troops 
would  have  been  on  the  move,  and  we  might  have 
48 


In  Camp. 

missed  them  at  the  fork  in  the  road  behind  us. 
What  would  the  General  have  done  had  he  seen 
the  enemy  actually  moving  on  his  works  ?  What 
•would  he  have  done  ?  " 

"Crack!"  sounded  a  gun.  A  flash  of  flame 
and  a  curl  of  smoke  from  the  bushes  told  Fairfax 
that  he  had  been  taken  off  his  guard  by  one  of 
Berkeley's  pickets.  Instantly,  as  his  quick  eye 
noted  that  the  firing  came  from  the  side  of  the 
road  nearest  Penelope  Payne,  he  wheeled  the 
horses  so  that  she  was  sheltered,  and  taking  aim 
at  the  smoke  still  curling  through  the  underbrush 
he  fired.  At  the  same  moment  another  shot  came 
whizzing  through  the  air,  and  Fairfax's  bridle  arm 
dropped  useless  at  his  side. 

"  For  the  love  of  God,"  cried  Fairfax,  "  ride  on  ! 
ride  for  your  life  !  Should  I  fall,  stay  not  to  help 
me,  but  ride  the  swifter.  There  be  more  lives 
than  thine  or  mine  at  stake  !  " 

So  saying,  he  struck  his  spurs  deep  into  his 
horse's  side,  and  the  two  started  on  a  full  gallop, 
though  the  blood  had  soaked  through  his  sleeve 
and  trickled  down  in  a  red  line  upon  his  stocking. 

On  and  on  sped  the  horses,  now  perforce  slow 
ing  up  a  little  to  pick  their  way  over  the  rough 
corduroy  road  of  logs  laid  loosely  over  the  bog, 
then  dashing  over  the  bridge,  their  hoofs  echoing 
4  49 


White  Aprons. 

noisily  against  the  planks.  The  gate  was  gained 
at  last. 

"  Halt !  "  cried  the  sentry.  "  No  farther,  though 
ye  bore  twenty  flags  of  truce,  till  ye  do  tell  your 
errand  ! " 

"  We  must  see  Governor  Berkeley,"  said  Fair 
fax  ;  but  his  voice  sounded  faint  in  his  own  ears. 

"  Come  ye  as  friends  or  foes  ?  " 

"  Both.  I  am  a  follower  of  Bacon ;  but  this 
young  lady  is  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Payne." 

"  Who  speaks  my  name  without  there  ?  "  asked  a 
deep,  authoritative  voice  over  the  sentry's  shoulder. 

"  Father!"  cried  Penelope.  Even  as  she  spoke 
Fairfax  fell  forward  on  his  horse's  neck,  faint  with 
loss  of  blood. 


5° 


CHAPTER   III. 

FLAG  OF    TRUCE. 

"  The  Latin  tongue  seems  somewhat  injurious  to  the  female 
sex  :  for  whereas  amicus  is  a  friend,  arnica  always  signifies  a 
sweetheart ;  as  if  their  sex  were  not  capable  of  any  other  kind 
of  familiar  friendship  but  in  way  to  marriage." 

"  COWARDS!" 

V->     "  Miscreants !  " 

"  Dogs  of  rebels  !  " 

"  An  I  had  my  way  they  should  be  blown  from 
the  mouth  of  the  cannon  when  we  reach  Green 
Spring." 

Fairfax  stood  leaning  against  the  wall  of  the 
powder  magazine,  listening  with  outward  calmness 
to  the  bitter  outcry  raised  by  all  the  excited  folk  in 
James  City  when  Penelope  Payne  had  delivered  her 
message.  When  first  he  had  regained  conscious 
ness  after  his  swoon,  the  surgeon  was  binding  his 
arm,  and  no  one  else  at  hand ;  for  all  were  gathered 
about  the  group  where  stood  Governor  Berkeley 
with  Colonel  Payne  and  his  daughter.  Penelope 
oft  cast  furtive  glances  at  the  surgeon  as  he 

51 


White  Aprons. 

worked,  but  her  attention  was   quickly  reclaimed 
by  the  eager  exclamations  around  her. 

Fairfax,  full  of  inward  curses  over  his  own  weak 
ness,  declined  the  doctor's  offer  to  help  him  into 
Major  Beverley's  house  which  stood  hard  by ;  but 
he  drank  deep  of  a  cup  of  spirits,  and  then,  rising, 
drew  near  the  group  of  talkers. 

In  its  centre  stood  Sir  William  Berkeley. 

He  was  a  stalwart  and  a  doughty  knight,  for  all 
his  threescore  years  and  ten.  His  hair,  which  fell 
in  a  queue  upon  his  shoulders,  was  bleached  bv 
nature  and  age,  whiter  than  all  the  powder  in  the 
three  kingdoms  could  have  made  it,  and  its  thick 
ness  was  greater  than  that  of  bag-wig,  full-bottomed 
tie,  or  curly  peruke. 

The  eye  that  flashed  beneath  the  shaggy  gray 
eyebrow  had  neither  the  dimness  nor  the  coldness 
of  age.  It  was  fiery,  choleric,  vengeful ;  and  now, 
dilated  as  it  was  with  passion,  it  seemed  a  bale-fire 
able  to  consume  the  mob  of  miscreants  who  dared 
to  dispute  his  autocratic  will.  The  tumult  of  rage 
within  him  stirred  even  the  breastplate  of  steel 
which  he  still  wore,  when  most  had  abandoned 
armor  as  heavy  and  useless ;  but  to  this  man  all 
that  savored  of  the  past  was  sacred,  and  he 
asked  but  to  live  and  die  in  the  traditions  of  his 
ancestors. 

52 


Flag  of  Truce. 

Fairfax  stood  a  moment  unobserved ;  but  as  the 
crowd  swayed  to  and  fro,  Berkeley  caught  sight  of 
him,  and  all  his  pent-up  rage  burst  forth.  His  face 
turned  from  red  to  purple,  and  the  veins  of  his 
forehead  swelled  till  those  about  feared  to  see  him 
fall  in  a  fit. 

"  I  '11  teach  you,"  he  cried,  shaking  his  fist  in 
the  face  of  Fairfax,  "  I  '11  teach  you  to  come  with 
such  messages  to  me.  Beverley,  order  out  the 
guard  and  have  the  pestilent  fellow  shot." 

At  this  Penelope  Payne  took  a  step  forward  and 
opened  her  lips  as  if  about  to  speak ;  but  her  father 
was  before  her. 

"  Nay,  nay  !  Your  Excellency,"  he  said,  laying 
his  hand  soothingly  on  Sir  William's  cuff.  "  You 
mean  not  all  you  say ;  you  would  be  the  last  man 
to  order  a  flag  of  truce  violated." 

"  And  you  say  this  ? "  asked  Berkeley,  between 
wrath  and  amazement.  "  You,  whose  wife  these 
wretches  propose  to  set  up  as  a  shield  betwixt 
themselves  and  our  bullets?  Faith,  if  good  old 
Dr.  Fuller  thought  it  strange  that  the  devil's  black 
guard  should  be  enrolled  God's  soldiers,  he  might 
e'en  think  it  stranger  still  could  he  see  these 
innocent  dames  thus  entered  as  a  white  guard  to 
the  devil." 

"  If  General  Bacon  plays  the  part  of  coward  he 

53 


White  Aprons. 

must  bear  the  scorn  and  contumely  which  his  acts 
do  call  for;  but  let  us  not  cast  ourselves  under  the 
same  reproach  by  the  breaking  of  honorable  rules 
of  civilized  warfare.  Besides,  this  young  man  is 
not  responsible  for  the  doings  of  his  superior  officer, 
—  our  revenge  should  fall  not  on  him,  but  on 
Bacon." 

"  Ay,'*  shouted  a  rough-looking  man  on  the  out 
skirts  of  the  crowd.  "Let  us  be  revenged  on 
Bacon ;  I  vote  for  an  immediate  attack." 

Colonel  Payne  turned  upon  the  speaker  with 
fire  in  his  glance.  "  Wretch !  "  cried  he.  "  Think 
ye  that  to  pierce  our  enemy's  side  we  will  dart  our 
weapons  through  the  breasts  of  our  wives  ?  " 

A  murmur  of  mingled  applause  and  disapproba 
tion  ran  about  the  crowd  at  these  words.  While 
Colonel  Payne  was  speaking,  the  Governor  was 
striding  up  and  down,  well-nigh  beside  himself 
with  fury,  ever  and  anon  clutching  at  the  hilt  of  his 
sword  as  though  he  had  a  mind  to  run  Fairfax 
through  with  his  own  hand,  then  glaring  at  him 
contemptuously  as  though  he  found  him  unworthy 
such  honor. 

Fairfax  neither  spoke  nor  moved,  but  stood  there 

still   as   a  stone   image.     He  looked   a   thorough 

soldier,  though  the  light  locks  which  in  old  Saxon 

days  had  given  his  family  its   name  fell  on  his 

54 


Flag  of  Truce. 

shoulders  in  curls,  and  though  his  eyes  were  blue 
as  any  maid's  that  caught  their  color  from  the 
cornflower ;  yet  the  softness  which  these  bespoke 
was  contradicted  by  the  haughty  bearing,  the 
resolute  mouth,  and  the  fighting  chin  thrust  com 
batively  forward  beyond  the  upper  jaw.  White  and 
wan  as  he  was,  and  with  one  hand  disabled  and 
carried  in  a  sling,  Bryan  Fairfax  was  yet  not  a 
man  to  be  trifled  with.  The  steady  gaze  where 
with  he  now  confronted  Berkeley  was  as  free  from 
fear  as  the  Governor's  own,  and  as  cool  as  Berke 
ley's  was  hot.  Its  very  calmness  more  enraged 
the  man  before  him  than  any  anger  could  have 
done. 

"  Am  I  master  here,  or  am  I  not  ? "  cried  the 
Governor,  looking  from  one  to  another.  "  Is  there 
none  to  do  my  bidding  ?  " 

At  the  moment  a  swaying  of  the  crowd  marked 
the  efforts  of  some  one  to  force  a  passage,  and  a 
stout  halberdier  elbowed  his  way  to  the  front,  and 
behind  him,  holding  her  head  high  and  somewhat 
scornfully,  walked  Lady  Frances  Berkeley.  Ap 
parently  unmoved  by  the  tumult  around  her,  she 
walked  calmly  to  her  husband's  side  and  laid  her 
hand  upon  his  cuff.  Not  a  word  said  she,  only 
stood  looking  at  him  as  one  that  knew  this  mood 
of  old  and  had  learned  how  best  to  meet  it.  Grad- 
55 


White  Aprons. 

ually  his  fingers  relaxed  their  clutch  at  the  hilt  of 
his  sword,  then  the  hand  fell  away  from  the  wea 
pon  and  laid  itself  upon  that  other  hand  on  his 
cuff.  His  eyes  lost  their  fierceness,  and  took  on 
instead  a  wholly  human  look  of  tenderness  and 
affection,  which  so  transformed  his  countenance 
that  it  seemed  to  bring  back  his  old  nature  with 
all  its  old-time  gentlehood. 

"  Why,  how  now,  poppet  ?  "  said  His  Excellency, 
in  a  tone  so  soft  that  one  who  had  heard  him  but 
now  addressing  Fairfax  could  scarce  have  believed 
it  was  the  same  man  who  spoke.  Those  who 
stood  around  (especially  the  women)  smiled  behind 
their  hands  at  the  word  "  poppet "  addressed  to 
the  middle-aged,  tight-lipped  little  lady,  trim  and 
prim,  carrying  her  chin  stiffly  above  the  starched 
ruff  with  a  touch-me-not  air  which  might  well  have 
made  this  pet  name  seem  somewhat  comical  to 
those  who  realized  not  that  true  love  hangs 
wreaths  of  roses  on  its  idol  though  it  be  of  iron, 
and  that  an  idol  never  grows  old. 

"  What  brings  thee  here  ?  "  added  Berkeley. 
"  Get  thee  home.  'T  is  no  place  for  women,  though 
there  be  too  many  here.  Let  them  but  fancy  they 
are  not  wanted  and  they  will  face  the  culverin." 

"  Ay,  that  will  I,"  answered  My  Lady,  "  when 
thou  art  there  to  protect  me." 

56 


Flag  of  Truce. 

Thus  did  she,  who  dearly  loved  a  fight,  whom 
indeed  Dame  Rumor  credited  with  having  pro 
voked  more  than  one  with  the  weapon  of  her 
tongue,  and  who  would  not  have  flinched  before 
the  whole  rebel  army,  play  upon  her  husband's 
weakness,  knowing  full  well,  perchance,  that  love 
has  its  interruptions,  but  that  vanity  is  perpetual. 

Berkeley  swelled  up  at  her  words  to  a  still  more 
inflated  dignity;  but  the  growing  softness  in  his 
eye  showed  his  lady  that  her  cause  was  won. 

"  I  was  fain,"  she  added,  "  to  look  nearer  upon 
this  Fairfax  to  whom  I  heard  ye  speaking  a  few 
minutes  since,  for  I  was  mightily  curious  to  know 
if  it  was  that  Bryan  Fairfax  who  is  reported  the 
best  sportsman  in  Warwick  County." 

Here  again  the  shrewdness  of  the  dame  peeped 
forth,  for  she  knew  full  well  that  the  Governor 
loved  a  sportsman  as  he  hated  a  rebel.  Berkeley 
himself  felt  his  resentment  weaken,  and  made  a 
desperate  effort  to  recover  it.  "  I  know  not  what 
or  how  much  ye  may  have  heard  of  this  Bryan 
Fairfax,  my  lady,  —  all  I  know  or  wish  to  know  is 
that  he  is  my  prisoner." 

"  Nay,"  answered  Lady  Berkeley,  smiling  up  into 
Sir  William's  bloodshot  eyes,  but  extending  her 
hand  to  Fairfax,  who  was  in  truth  an  old  favorite 
of  hers  before  these  war  times  and  well  remem- 

57 


White  Aprons. 

bered  at  the  hunt  balls,  —  "  nay,  I  swear  he  is  my 
prisoner ! " 

"  Say  rather,  your  slave/'  answered  Fairfax,  who 
had  a  mighty  pretty  wit  of  his  own  and  kept  it 
close  behind  his  tongue. 

"Take  him,  then,"  cried  Sir  Turkey  Cock,  swell 
ing  stouter  and  redder  than  ever.  "  Take  him,  and 
wrap  him  in  wool  if  ye  like,  to  be  ready  for  the 
next  fox  hunt ;  but  for  us  whose  business  is  to  hunt 
men,  't  is  time  to  be  about  our  preparations." 

"  Then  must  I  beg  another  escort  of  Your 
Excellency  that  I  may  return  with  all  speed  to 
Green  Spring." 

So  spoke  the  voice  of  Penelope  Payne,  who  had 
been  standing  by,  less  noticed  than  her  youthful 
vanity  fully  relished  in  a  scene  wherein  she  had 
thought  to  play  the  heroine. 

"  Zounds  !  "  cried  Sir  William.  "  What  have  we 
here  !  Payne,  has  your  daughter  turned  rebel  too 
in  these  days  when  all  the  world  is  upside  down, 
or  is  she  gone  mad  that  she  doth  imagine  we  will 
consent  to  send  her  back  to  be  but  one  more 
target  for  our  bullets  ?  That  red  head  of  thine,"  he 
added,  turning  toward  Penelope  and  speaking 
more  kindly,  "were  too  fair  a  mark." 

"My  daughter  is  right,"  said  Colonel  Payne, 
speaking  with  slow  utterance  and  with  that  dry- 

58 


Flag  of  Truce. 

ness  of  the  throat  which  marks  intense  inward 
feeling.  "  Come  good,  come  ill,  her  place  is 
beside  her  mother.  Mistress  Berkeley,  I  petition 
thee  that  this  prisoner  of  thine  who  hath  brought 
my  daughter  safely  hither  may  be  her  guardian  on 
the  return  journey." 

"  'T  were  willingly  done  on  my  part,"  answered 
Lady  Berkeley,  "  if  so  be  my  husband  giveth  his 
leave." 

"  'Sdeath,"  cried  the  Governor,  "  if  you  are  all 
bound  to  use  the  golden  rule  as  a  ramrod,  the 
sooner  we  open  our  gates  to  the  rebels  the  better. 
On  your  own  heads  be  the  result  of  your  folly !  I 
wash  my  hands  of  the  business  !  " 

With  this  His  Excellency  turned  in  high  dud 
geon,  and  folding  his  arms  behind  his  back,  like 
one  resolved  both  in  letter  and  spirit  to  have  no 
hand  in  the  matter,  he  strode  on ;  or.  to  speak  more 
graphically,  strutted  off.  Colonel  Payne  stood 
looking  dubiously  after  him,  knowing  not  how  to 
interpret  his  behavior ;  but  Lady  Berkeley  whis 
pered  :  "  'T  is  a  compromise.  He  will  not  say 
*  Yea,'  but  he  hath  not  said,  *  Nay/  Off  with 
them  ere  his  mood  harden ! " 

The  Colonel  bowed  assent.  He  drew  his 
daughter  to  his  breast  and  held  her  there  close, 
close  as  though  he  never  could  let  her  go.  The 

59 


White  Aprons. 

slow  tears  fell  from  the  man's  stern  eyes  upon  the 
girl's  bright  hair.  At  last  with  one  final  embrace 
he  released  her;  then  taking  her  hand  he  placed 
it  in  that  of  Fairfax,  saying  solemnly,  — 

"  The  Lord  do  so  to  you,  and  more  also,  as  you 
do  unto  this  my  child  !  " 

They  were  strange  words  to  pass  between 
enemies.  On  the  instant  it  shot  through  the  minds 
of  those  who  stood  around  that  this  was  like  to 
the  ancient  form  of  betrothal.  But  the  words 
which  next  fell  from  the  father's  lips  were  in  quite 
another  spirit. 

"  I  would,  Major  Fairfax,  that  I  might  break 
my  mind  to  your  General,  but  you  in  my  stead 
may  say  to  him  from  me,  as  Governor  Berkeley's 
commanding  officer,  that,  being  gentlemen,  we 
would  no  sooner  fire  at  women  than  we  would 
shelter  ourselves  behind  them.  We  will  wait  for 
his  fortifications  to  be  finished,  presuming  that  he 
intends  not  to  fight  his  whole  campaign  behind 
'White  Aprons.'" 

A  titter  ran  about  the  group  at  the  last  words, 
and  the  angry  color  mantled  Fairfax's  cheek. 

"  Silence  !  "  commanded  Colonel  Payne,  looking 
sharply  from  man  to  man. 

"  Say  also,"  he  continued,  "  to  General  Bacon, 
that  I  consider  the  insult  he  hath  thus  put  upon 
60 


Flag  of  Truce. 

my  wife  and  daughter  to  be  doubly  an  insult  to 
me,  and  that  meet  him  where  I  may,  in  war  or 
peace,  on  the  battle-field,  or  in  the  council  hall, 
I  will  shoot  him  like  the  beast  he  is." 

"  O  Father,  Father !  "  sobbed  the  girl,  clinging 
closer  to  him. 

"  Nay,  nay,  my  darling !  Have  no  fears.  Me- 
thinks  'tis  but  a  cowardly  ruse  on  Bacon's  part 
and  that  he  doth  intend  no  bodily  harm,  but  in  any 
case  bethink  thee  that  thou  art  a  soldier's  daughter, 
and  bear  thyself  as  one  who  fears  naught  that  men 
can  do." 

They  were  almost  the  very  words  her  mother 
had  uttered  as  they  turned  their  backs  on  the  dear 
walls  of  Rosemary,  and  the  flood  of  recollection 
sadly  shook  the  firmness  still  left  to  Penelope. 

A  tumult  of  wrath  and  resentment  shook  the 
soul  of  the  man  who  stood  by  her  side.  In  all  his 
honorable  young  life  Fairfax  had  never  till  this  day 
known  what  it  meant  to  be  scorned,  and  now  he 
could  ill  brook  the  looks  of  contempt  and  ill  will 
which  met  his  gaze  on  every  side. 

"  Colonel  Payne,"  he  answered,  striving  to  keep 
his  voice  steady,  "  I  can  answer  for  the  safe  con 
duct  of  your  daughter  and  the  safe  bearing  of  your 
message.  The  slur  upon  General  Bacon  you  are 
secure  in  casting,  here  in  your  stronghold,  where 
61 


White  Aprons. 

I  am  as  powerless  to  retort  as  to  avenge.  When 
we  meet  again,  I  trust  my  sword  may  speak  for  me." 

Colonel  Payne  bowed  a  haughty  acknowledg 
ment  of  these  words  the  while  he  busied  himself 
with  setting  his  daughter  on  her  horse.  When 
she  had  made  ready,  Fairfax  climbed  into  his  own 
saddle  ;  and  though  the  wounded  arm  hindered  him 
not  a  little,  none  offered  him  help.  Amid  a  silence 
which  spoke  louder  than  groans  or  curses,  he 
adjusted  the  bridle  reins  of  the  two  horses,  then 
he  and  his  charge  rode  slowly  through  the  lines  of 
hostile  faces,  rode  through  the  gate  grudgingly 
opened  by  hostile  hands,  rode  across  the  echoing 
bridge,  then  out  into  the  open  country,  stretching 
away  free  and  clear  to  Green  Spring. 

Ah,  what  a  relief  to  turn  from  all  the  turmoil  of 
human  passions  to  the  tranquillity  of  Nature,  whose 
face  smiles  not  a  whit  the  less,  though  contending 
armies  shed  blood  upon  her  garments ! 

Bryan  Fairfax  within  the  last  two  hours  had 
faced  the  wrath  of  armed  men,  the  suffering  of 
a  wound,  the  chance  of  death  itself ;  yet  none 
of  these  were  so  keenly  in  his  mind  as  the  rebuff 
with  which  the  girl  beside  him  had  met  his  at 
tempted  kindness.  It  is  the  little  things  of  life 
which  make  it  bitter  or  sweet. 

Thus  Major  Fairfax  rode  on  in  resolute  silence, 
62 


Flag  of  Truce. 

looking  straight  before  him,  as  one  bent  only  on 
fulfilling  his  distasteful  commission,  and  in  haste 
to  be  relieved  of  his  troublesome  duty  of  guard. 

"  Poor  Papa !  It  wrung  his  heart  to  let 
me  go." 

Fairfax  started  as  though  a  cannon  had  been 
discharged  at  his  ear.  He  could  scarce  credit  his 
own  hearing  when  it  told  him  that  his  companion 
had  of  her  own  volition  broken  the  hostile  silence 
which  had  lain  betwixt  them.  For  an  instant  he 
paused,  watchful  of  his  dignity,  as  youth  ever  is, 
and  hesitated  whether  or  no  to  accept  the  olive 
branch  thus  held  out  to  him. 

"In  sooth,"  he  answered  at  last,  "it  could  have 
been  no  otherwise,  yet  was  his  counsel  according 
to  the  wisdom  for  which  he  is  reputed,  and  he  bore 
himself  to  the  end  like  the  brave  man  he  is." 

"  Yet  you  would  shoot  him  if  you  met  this  day," 
said  the  girl,  somewhat  tremulously ;  for  I  must  con 
fess  here,  almost  at  the  beginning  of  my  tale,  that 
Penelope  Payne  was  no  iron  heroine,  no  Joan  of 
Arc,  but  a  very  human  and  altogether  variable 
maiden,  who  could  be  touched  to  compassion  or 
keyed  to  heroism,  but  who  cared  little  for  princi 
ples  or  causes  as  compared  with  people.  Having 
once  vented  her  hot  temper,  she  found  it  increas 
ingly  difficult  to  preserve  the  chill  disapprobation 

63 


White  Aprons. 

which  lingers  so  easily  with  colder  natures.  Be 
sides,  the  thought  perpetually  and  importunately 
knocked  at  her  heart,  "  He  risked  his  life  to  save 
mine." 

Fairfax  was  quick  to  feel  the  hint  of  softening, 
as  she  rushed  on  after  her  wonted  impetuous 
fashion  :  "  Why  do  you,  why  should  any  one,  hate 
my  father  ? "  Of  a  sudden  the  fiery  brown  eyes 
were  drowned  in  tears  as  a  realization  of  the  mean 
ing  of  war  swept  over  her  for  the  first  time,  bringing 
in  its  train  the  thought  of  blood  and  wounds,  of 
suffering  and  death. 

"  Be  of  good  heart,  Mistress  Payne,"  answered 
Fairfax,  a  hint  of  irony  in  his  tone ;  "  ye  need 
have  little  fear  for  your  father  from  any  enmity  of 
mine.  He  is  a  veteran,  and  far  liker  to  shed  my 
blood  than  I  his." 

The  girl  shuddered.  "  Oh  !  "  cried  she,  "  belike 
it  is  because  I  am  a  woman  and  have  a  woman's 
weakness  that  war  do  seem  so  horrible  in  mine 
eyes.  For  the  life  of  me  I  cannot  comprehend  why 
and  wherefore  all  the  sons  of  the  Dominion  are 
fallen  of  a  sudden  to  cutting  each  the  others' 
throats." 

"  Wherefore  indeed  ! "  sighed  Fairfax,  more  as 
'twere  thinking  aloud  than  answering  his  com 
panion.  "  Were  it  not  for  the  diabolical  temper 
64 


Flag  of  Truce. 

of  one  man,  the  colony  would  be  in  peace  and  unity, 
with  no  foes  but  those  without." 

Penelope  Payne  stretched  that  long  throat  of 
hers  still  longer,  and  held  her  head  high  and  stiffly, 
with  a  swift  change  from  the  half-friendliness  of 
a  moment  before.  A  spiritual  thermometer  would 
have  marked  a  fall  of  forty  degrees  in  the  warmth 
of  her  manner  as  she  said,  "  You  speak,  I  presume 
of  General  Bacon." 

Fairfax  felt  a  swift  pang  of  regret  that  he  had 
been  drawn  on  to  break  the  truce  between  them ; 
but  the  girl's  tone  stirred  his  anger,  and  with  the 
eager  unwisdom  of  youth  he  took  up  the  glove  of 
controversy. 

"  Nay,"  said  he,  "  not  of  Bacon,  but  of  one  who 
hath  wronged  him  at  every  turn.  General  Bacon 
did  ask  naught  save  the  poor  boon  of  permission 
to  defend  his  home  and  the  homes  of  all  of  us 
against  the  savages  who  are  lurking  in  the  wood 
like  so  many  wild  beasts,  ready  to  leap  out  upon  us 
as  they  did  on  our  grandfathers  fifty  years  ago, 
when  the  settlers  thought  themselves  so  secure. 
But  Bacon  is  too  good  a  soldier  to  await  the  pleas 
ure  of  the  enemy  and  let  them  take  their  own 
time  for  opening  the  fight.  Oh,  his  foes  will  yet  be 
forced  to  own  him  the  greatest  man  of  our  time,  — 
scholar,  soldier,  statesman,  and  gentleman !  " 
5  65 


White  Aprons. 

The  girl's  tone  was  hot  with  anger  as  she  made 
answer :  "  A  soldier  certainly,  a  scholar  perchance, 
but  a  gentleman  —  never  !  How  dare  you  call  one 
1  gentleman  '  who  sets  up  women  as  targets  above 
his  works.  Oh,  of  a  truth,  Bacon  and  the  rest  of 
you  shall  be  set  forever  in  the  pillory  of  public 
contempt  as  '  White  Aprons ' !  " 

The  laugh  which  followed  these  words  was 
bitter,  and  grated  on  the  ear  of  him  who  heard  it. 
An  older  man  would  have  met  the  thrust  and 
parried  it  with  that  contemptuous  toleration  which 
most  chafes  the  hot  and  angry  heart ;  but  Fairfax 
was  young,  and  the  semblance  of  truth  in  the  girl's 
words  stung  him  to  the  quick.  "  There,"  cried  he, 
snatching  a  paper  from,  the  breast  of  his  coat  and 
thrusting  it  out  toward  Penelope  Payne;  "read 
that,  and  confess  with  shame  how  unjust  you  have 
been !  " 

Penelope  took  the  paper  and  read.  It  was  an 
official  order  hastily  written  on  a  half-sheet  of  paper. 

"  MAJOR  FAIRFAX,"  —  it  ran,  —  "  You  will  take 
charge  of  the  women  lately  captured  and  brought 
to  the  camp.  They  are  to  be  stationed  upon  the 
little  hill  in  front  of  our  works,  in  order  that  in  the 
event  of  Berkeley's  approach  they  may  be  seen 
from  afar.  Should  Berkeley,  however,  so  far  for- 
66 


Flag  of  Truce. 

get  every  natural  scruple  as  to  order  an  advance 
on  the  works,  it  will  be  your  duty  to  see  that  the 
women  are  withdrawn  at  once  to  a  place  of  safety, 
and  that  under  no  circumstances  are  they  allowed 
to  sustain  any,  the  least,  injury. 

"  (Signed)  NATHANIEL  BACON." 

The  relief  to  Penelope's  overstrained  nerves  was 
almost  too  great.  Her  fear  for  her  mother  set  so 
suddenly  at  rest,  her  anxieties  for  the  moment 
lulled,  she  bowed  her  head  upon  the  high  pommel 
of  her  saddle,  and  wept  bright  tears  wherein  the 
world  around  seemed  to  dance  in  rose-colored 
reflections. 

When  she  at  length  raised  her  head  and  opened 
her  eyes,  she  turned  toward  Major  Fairfax  with 
a  look  of  friendliness  such  as  her  face  had 
not  yet  worn  for  him.  She  held  out  the  paper 
to  him  with  a  dazzling  smile ;  but  it  met  impenetra 
ble  gloom.  The  young  soldier's  brow  was  knit, 
his  cheeks  flushed,  and  he  gnawed  nervously  at  his 
under  lip. 

"Are  you  angry  with  me?"  asked  the  girl,  a 
note  of  timidity  for  the  first  time  in  her  voice. 

"  No,  with  myself,"  he  answered.  "  I  have  done 
that  which  merits  the  loss  of  my  rank,  perhaps 
worse.  I  have  betrayed  orders  which  if  not  marked 


WJiite  Aprons. 

secret,  were  assuredly  never  meant  to  meet  your 
eye.  In  short,  I  have  been  a  fool." 

"  Nay,  Major  Fairfax,  unless  to  let  in  a  ray  of 
sunshine  on  the  dark  path  of  a  poor  maiden  well- 
nigh  distraught  with  trouble  be  foolishness,  you 
have  committed  no  folly.  I  swear  to  you  that  I 
will  guard  this  secret  as  jealously  as  you  yourself 
could  do,  holding  it  my  very  own.  Why  need  any 
ever  know  that  other  eyes  than  yours  have  looked 
upon  the  order?" 

"  Because  I  am  not  a  poltroon  nor  a  deceiver," 
answered  Fairfax,  hotly,  venting  some  of  his  impa 
tience  with  himself  upon  his  comrade,  in  very 
unheroic  but  highly  human  fashion.  "  You  rate 
me  as  baser  than  I  am,  baser  than  you  have  called 
me  yet,  —  though  your  tongue  has  not  spared  my 
poor  character,  —  if  you  fancy  I  would  withhold  the 
knowledge  of  the  breach  of  confidence  whereof  I 
have  been  guilty  from  General  Bacon.  For  your 
mother  and  the  rest,  you  must  do  as  you  think  fit, 
—  I  will  not  stoop  to  ask  you  to  keep  a  secret 
which  I  was  too  weak  to  guard  myself." 

With  this  Fairfax  set  the  horses  in  a  gallop,  and 
they  cleared  the  ground  at  so  round  a  pace  that 
the  woods  seemed  to  fly  past  them.  Both  man 
and  maid  were  so  wrapped  in  their  own  thoughts 
that  it  was  with  surprise  that  they  found  themselves 
68 


Flag  of  Truce. 

passing  the  sentry,  riding  up  the  long  avenue,  and 
standing  before  the  mansion  of  Green  Spring. 
Not  a  soul  was  waiting  to  receive  them.  The 
grove  was  filled  with  soldiers,  but  not  a  person  was 
about  the  house  save  the  black  servant  waiting  to 
take  the  horses.  Fairfax  turned  to  help  Mistress 
Payne  to  alight ;  but  as  on  the  night  before,  she  had 
slipped  from  her  saddle  without  his  aid.  Quite 
simple  and  unconscious  she  stood  there,  tired  and 
dusty  and  worn,  less  fair  than  she  had  looked  a 
score  of  times  ere  now ;  but  for  some  inscrutable 
reason  the  picture  of  her  as  she  stood  thus  against 
the  pillar  entered  into  the  heart  of  Bryan  Fairfax 
never  to  be  obliterated.  As  he  looked  at  her,  a 
new  power  came  into  his  life.  He  fell  in  love, 
though  as  yet  he  guessed  it  not  himself. 

'T  is  a  strange  business,  this  falling  in  love ;  mys 
terious  as  the  creation  of  the  world.  God  says  to  the 
human  soul,  "  Let  there  be  light ! "  and  there  is  light. 

That  is  all  we  know  of  it;  and  none  of  all  those 
who  have  experienced  the  mystery  can  explain  it 
to  another. 

Penelope  Payne  trembled  a  little,  as  one  who 
feels  the  air  electric  with  some  strange  new  dis 
turbing  element  but  half  comprehended.  Stretch 
ing  forth  her  hand  and  looking  into  his  face,  with 
eyes  half  appealing  and  wholly  maidenly,  she  said : 


White  Aprons. 

"If  you  and  I  were  not  sworn  enemies,  I  would 
say,  '  Be  my  friend.'  " 

"  May  I  ?  "  he  asked,  bending  low  over  her  hand 
as  though  he  were  craving  a  boon  so  far  above  his 
deserts  that  he  wondered  at  his  own  temerity. 

You  think  perhaps  that  this  was  an  over-sudden 
leap  into  love  from  the  enmity  and  indifference  of 
a  few  hours  ago.  "  How  did  it  come  to  pass  ?  "  you 
ask. 

It  came  to  pass  because  youth  and  love  are 
stronger  than  all  the  wars  and  hatreds  and  estrange 
ment  between  kindred, — and  so  runs  the  world 
away. 


7° 


CHAPTER   IV. 

HEARTS   OF   GOLD. 

"  Form  in  rank  ;  form  in  rank ; 
Then  move  forward  and  outflank. 
Let  me  see  them  overpowered, 
Hacked,  demolished,  and  devoured  I 
Neither  earth  nor  sea  nor  sky 
Nor  woody  fastnesses  on  high 
Shall  protect  them  if  they  fly." 

THE  sun  streamed  full  into  the  open  window  of 
the  dining-room  at  Green  Spring,  it  played 
cheerily  on  the  dresser,  around  the  silver  marked 
with  the  Berkeley  arms  and  over  the  row  of  pewter 
plates  set  on  edge  along  the  shelf.  It  glanced 
across  the  floor  and  climbed  the  twisted  legs  of  the 
heavy  chairs.  It  even  entered  daringly  the  open 
mouths  of  the  lions'  heads  which  formed  the  end 
of  the  arms  and  changed  their  fierce  gaping  to  a 
harmless  yawn. 

One  thing  only  they  could  not  touch  to  cheer 
fulness,  —  the  face  of  the  man  who  stood  with  head 
bent  and  elbow  propped  against  the  mantel.  Now 


White  Aprons. 

that  he  was  alone,  its  gravity  and  sadness  were 
more  marked  than  ever.  The  brows  were  knit,  and 
the  lines  which  curved  downward  from  the  nostril  — 
lines  which  speak  controlled  nervousness  —  were 
still  more  deeply  graven. 

He  sighed,  not  the  sigh  of  sorrow,  but  the  pant  of 
a  soul  overloaded  by  the  weight  of  mighty  issues 
which  it  finds  itself  physically  unequal  to  sustain. 
Such  a  sigh  is  the  protest  of  mind  against  the 
hampering  limitations  of  body. 

As  though  the  pent-up  weariness  were  relieved 
by  the  expression  thereof,  Bacon's  face  lightened 
somewhat  of  its  cloud,  and  still  more  as  his  ear 
caught  the  lively  sound  of  fife  and  drum  command 
ing  the  troops  to  gather. 

"  Ha  !  "  said  he,  half  aloud.  "  The  men  have 
finished  the  works  sooner  than  I  believed  possible. 
Now  let  Berkeley  come  on  when  he  will ;  we  are 
ready  for  him.  'T  is  the  hour  of  ten,  if  that  tall 
Dutch  clock  in  the  corner  speaks  truth.  Where  the 
devil  is  Fairfax  ?  " 

As  if  answering  to  his  name  at  roll-call,  Bryan 
Fairfax  appeared  at  the  open  door.  Bacon's  eye  fell 
on  the  bandaged  arm.  His  gloomy  eye  flashed  fire. 

"  Have  ye  met  foul  play  ?  By  Heaven,  they  shall 
pay  for  it  that  dared  such  wrong  !  " 

The  youth  before  him  was  too  much  occupied 
72 


Hearts  of  Gold. 

with  the  load  on  his  conscience  to  heed  the  words. 
Scarce  pausing  for  the  military  salute,  he  burst  out 
with  his  confession. 

Bacon  looked  grave  the  while  he  listened.  "  I 
had  thought  you  trustworthy,  Fairfax,"  he  said  at 
last ;  and  his  tone  of  withdrawal  cut  the  younger 
man  to  the  heart.  "  Up  till  now  I  have  ever  found 
ye  as  close-mouthed  as  one  of  the  oysters  in  Chesa 
peake  Bay ;  an  I  heard  it  not  from  your  own  lips  I 
would  ne'er  have  credited  the  story  that  ye  had 
been  pricked  into  the  betrayal  of  a  confidence  by 
the  pin  point  of  a  shrewish  tongue." 

The  hot  blood  rushed  over  Fairfax's  face  and 
mounted  to  the  roots  of  his  hair.  General  Bacon 
noted  it,  and  his  tone  softened  somewhat  as  he  con 
tinued  :  "  Well,  well,  Major,  ye  have  shown  yourself 
a  gallant  officer  in  the  field,  which  must  in  some 
measure  expiate  your  fault,  and  your  frank  confes 
sion  must  be  counted  still  further  extenuation. 
Happily,  this  time  your  indiscretion  hath  wrought 
little  harm,  for  the  work  here  is  done.  The  de 
fences  are  finished,  and  we  are  ready  for  the  worst 
Berkeley  can  design  against  us.  Damn  my  blood  !  " 
he  shouted,  a  sudden  tide  of  passion  sweeping 
over  him  ;  "  I  '11  kill  Governor,  Council,  Assembly 
and  all,  and  then  I  '11  sheathe  my  sword  in  my  own 
heart's  blood !  " 

73 


WJiite  Aprons. 

When  Bacon  was  in  a  mood  like  this,  he  was  as 
one  possessed.  Fairfax  stood  stock-still,  watching 
till  the  fit  should  pass.  At  last  he  ventured  :  "  And 
what  of  the  women  ?  " 

"  Damn  me ! "  cried  Bacon,  his  anger  rising 
once  more  at  the  mention  of  the  sore  subject. 
"  I  Ve  done  with  these  women,  and  the  sooner 
they  be  gone  the  better;  for  if  they  tarry  here 
much  longer,  all  my  officers  may  be  corrupted 
from  their  loyalty." 

"  General  Bacon,  I  am  a  gentleman,  and  I  will 
be  spoke  to  like  one ! "  Though  it  was  but  a  jun 
ior  and  a  subordinate  who  uttered  the  words,  Bacon 
felt  the  dignity  of  the  tone  and  the  justness  of  the 
reproach. 

"Nay,  nay,"  he  said,  laying  his  hand  on  the 
Major's  shoulder,  "  take  not  so  seriously  what  I 
spake  in  hot  blood.  I  have  told  you  already  that 
I  count  your  fault  extenuated  by  its  confession. 
Moreover,  your  wounded  arm  bears  witness  to 
your  brave  and  faithful  discharge  of  your  trust ; 
and  as  for  being  led  away  by  a  woman,  ye  have 
been  no  weaker  than  our  forbear  Adam  in  the 
Garden  of  Eden.  Nor  need  ye  look  so  far  for 
justification,  for  by  Heaven,  our  royal  master  on 
t'  other  side  the  sea  sets  us  all  a  fine  example." 

"Hm!" 

74 


Hearts  of  Gold. 

Both  Bacon  and  Fairfax  started  at  the  sound  of 
the  suppressed  cough,  and  looking  up  they  saw  a 
man's  figure  at  the  door  which  opened  toward  the 
kitchen  passage. 

"  'T  is  that  snake,  Thorn  !  "  muttered  Fairfax. 

"  Ay,  but  I  '11  draw  the  poison  of  his  fangs," 
said  Bacon.  Then  turning  toward  Thorn :  "  Pray 
have  ye  any  fault  to  find  with  my  words  ?  " 

"  Nay ;  surely  a  general  may  say  what  he  will, 
though  't  were  flat  treason  from  his  subordi 
nates." 

"  I  prithee,  good  Master  Thorn,  since  you  count 
it  mannerly  to  listen  to  a  conversation  never  in 
tended  for  your  ears,  will  you  be  good  enough  to 
explain  the  kernel  of  treason  which  as  you  do 
imply  lay  hidden  in  my  discourse  ?  My  words 
were  that  the  King  set  us  all  a  fine  example.  Say 
you  not  so  ?  " 

"  Ay,  of  a  truth  !  " 

"  Then  have  ye  said  all  I  said,  and  ye  may  go 
squeal  it  in  Berkeley's  ears ;  for  as  I  live,  I  will 
send  you  over  to  the  enemy's  camp  trussed  like  a 
stuck  pig,  when  the  battle  is  done,  if  ever  you  ven 
ture  unbidden  into  my  presence  again,  and  thrust 
your  impudent  nose  into  matters  that  concern  you 
not.  Be  gone,  sir  !  " 

Arthur  Thorn  meeched  from  the  room ;  but  as  he 

75 


White  Aprons. 

passed  Fairfax,  he  cast  on  him  a  look  of  deadly 
hatred.  "  I  did  see  it  all,"  he  muttered. 

"Saw  what?  You  infernal,  prating  liar!  "  cried 
Fairfax.  "  Speak,  or  I  '11  shake  the  falsehood  out 
of  you ! " 

"  Saw  what  ?  "  echoed  Thorn  mockingly.  "  I 
saw  her  extend  her  hand.  I  saw  you  take  it  and 
bend  over  it.  Oh,  I  doubt  not  you  had  a  charming 
morning's  ride  !  " 

The  man's  face  was  livid  with  baffled  jealousy, 
mixed  with  malice  and  cowardice. 

Ere  the  words  were  out  of  his  mouth,  Fairfax 
took  him  by  the  collar,  and,  raising  him  from  the 
ground,  shook  him  as  I  have  seen  a  mastiff  shake 
a  mongrel.  So  beside  himself  with  rage  was  Fair 
fax  that  he  was  like  to  have  done  his  adversary 
some  serious  bodily  harm;  but  Bacon's  arm  of 
authority  was  thrust  between  them,  and  his  master 
ful  voice  said  sternly :  "  Quarrelling  like  school 
boys  !  and  in  my  presence !  This  passes.  I  will 
have  you  both  in  the  guard-house  and  this  cease 
not  on  the  instant.  Ye  think,  perchance,  because 
the  Governor  hath  withheld  my  commission,  I  am 
but  the  leader  of  a  mob,  a  mad  fellow  with  a  mot 
ley  crew  of  followers  entitled  to  neither  respect 
nor  show  of  authority.  By  Heaven !  —  " 

When  he  was  advanced  so  far  in  his  speech,  the 


Hearts  of  Gold. 

red  which  had  mantled  his  face  changed  to  deep 
crimson,  almost  to  purple,  and  he  staggered  and 
would  have  fallen  but  that  his  hand  chanced  to 
meet  the  lion's  head,  and  grasping  it  for  support  he 
sank  into  the  chair. 

The  behavior  of  the  two  young  men  matched 
with  their  character.  Arthur  Thorn,  seizing  his 
opportunity,  sidled  out  through  the  open  door,  mut 
tering  to  himself  :  "  The  storm  may  blow  over,  but 
some  of  us  are  like  to  be  struck  by  lightning 
first." 

Bryan  Fairfax  rushed  forward  and  threw  him 
self  on  his  knees  before  Bacon  in  a  very  passion  of 
remorse  and  contrition. 

"Strike  me!"  he  cried.  "Stab  me  with  the 
poniard  in  your  belt !  But  for  the  love  of  God, 
look  not  like  this  upon  me  !  I  cannot  bear  it." 

The  anger  died  slowly  out  of  Bacon's  face,  and  a 
smile,  or  rather  a  sad  and  bitter  shadow  of  a  smile, 
followed  it. 

"What  better  should  I  look  for?"  he  asked, 
speaking  half  to  himself.  "  Do  not  rats  desert  a 
sinking  ship,  —  and  what  but  a  rotten  and  timber- 
crazed  craft  am  I  ?  " 

"  Thou  !  Verily  thou  art  the  main  prop  and  stay 
of  the  best  cause  and  the  goodliest  country  of  the 
round  world  ! " 

77 


White  Aprons. 

Bacon  shook  his  head. 

"  Tell  me,  does  aught  ail  thee  ?  I  saw  thee  but 
now  clutch  at  thy  heart  like  one  in  mortal 
weakness  " 

"  Nay,  nay.  'T  was  but  a  passing  giddiness. 
But  it  needs  not  that  to  strengthen  my  assurance. 
Fairfax,  I  am  a  doomed  man." 

"  My  God,  General!  What  can  have  set  thee  on 
to  such  gloomy  thoughts?  Surely  no  man  ever 
faced  the  cannon's  mouth  with  such  a  cool  front  as 
thou." 

"A  cannon!  Pooh!  'Twere  a  coward  indeed 
who  feared  to  face  a  friendly  ball  of  iron  which 
but  bids  one  good  day  in  passing,  and  either  leaves 
him  unharmed  or  wafts  him  away  in  a  twinkling  to 
some  less  troublous  world.  But  to  feel  one's  self 
day  by  day  less  full  of  life  and  vigor,  to  will  and  find 
no  answering  action,  to  rub  the  brow  till  the  flesh 
smarts,  yet  rouse  not  the  drowsy  thought,  to 
stretch  aching  limbs  in  the  morning  and  prod  a 
reluctant  frame  to  rise  and  meet  the  daily  task, — 
to  do  all  this,  I  say,  and  yet  'bate  nothing  of  heart 
and  hope,  would  tax  more  heroic  stuff  than  I  can 
boast." 

"  But  how  can  this  be  true  of  you  ?  —  of  you  of 
all  people  in  the  world  ?  —  who  go  about  heartening 
the  men  to  their  tasks,  so  full  of  courage  that  the 

78 


Hearts  of  Gold. 

ranks  stand  straighter  when  ye  have  passed  ?  'T  is 
some  strange  freak  of  your  fancy  bred  by  the  lack 
of  sleep.  You  must  have  rest." 

u'Tis  too  late  to  cry  'Hold  hard!'  when  the 
arrow  has  left  the  bow,  and,  Fairfax  —  you  are  the 
only  man  to  whom  I  have  breathed  it,  and  I  charge 
you  hint  it  to  no  man  living  —  but  I  count  my  symp 
toms  too  strange  for  natural  illness.  I  fear  poison" 

"Poison!  My  God!"  cried  Fairfax,  turning 
white. 

"  Ay,  slow  poison,  brewed  from  some  of  these 
deadly  plants  which  do  abound  together  with  the 
healing  herbs  in  the  Virginia  forests.  Berkeley  is 
desperate,  and  our  game  was  nearly  won.  But  if  I 
die,  'tis  lost  again,  though  all  the  dice  of  Fate  show 
doubles.  Drummond  will  ne'er  serve  under  Law 
rence  —  still  less  Lawrence  yield  precedence  to 
Drummond.  I  would  to  God,  Fairfax,  thou  hadst 
a  few  more  years  on  that  head  of  thine,  for  thou 
wouldst  be  the  properest  leader  of  them  all." 

"  Nay,  my  Chief,  my  dear,  dear  Chief !  Speak 
not  of  any  inheriting  thy  power.  'T  were  as  vain 
for  the  eagle  to  bequeath  his  nest  to  the  sparrow." 

"  Rub  a  dub  !    Rub  a  dub  !   Rub  a  dub  dub  !  " 

The  rumble  of  the  drum  with  its  recall  to  the 
world  of  action  broke  in  thus  upon  the  talk  of  the 
two  men,  —  sudden  and  sharp  as  the  knocking  at 

79 


White  Aprons. 

the  gate  upon  the  guilt  of  Macbeth.  As  Bacon 
heard  it,  he  sprang  to  his  feet  like  one  to  whom 
new  life  has  been  given,  and  began  buckling  on  his 
sword.  "  Hark  !  "  he  cried.  "  'T  is  the  signal  for 
forming.  I  bade  Drummond  give  the  summons 
when  he  saw  a  cloud  of  dust  in  the  direction  of 
James  City.  Who  spoke  of  death  ?  Life,  life ! 
glorious  life  is  in  the  song  of  the  rattling  drum  and 
the  shrilling  of  the  fife." 

So  utterly  was  the  whole  look  and  bearing  of  the 
man  changed  by  this  new-born  martial  vigor  that 
Fairfax  rubbed  his  eyes  and  could  scarce  believe 
he  was  not  the  victim  of  some  strange  bewildering 
dream ;  but  Bacon  gave  him  little  time  to  speculate 
on  the  transformation.  "  Follow  me  !  "  he  cried, 
flinging  wide  the  great  door  and  stepping  forth  into 
the  full  sunlight  of  the  porch. 

The  greensward  was  filled  with  the  ranks  of  his 
men,  and  as  they  caught  sight  of  their  leader  a 
mighty  cheer  broke  forth,  —  a  cheer  which  brought 
the  women  in  the  upper  chamber  to  the  window,  full 
of  anxious  fear  lest  the  cheer  from  their  foe  meant  a 
groan  from  their  friends.  As  Penelope  Payne 
looked  down,  her  eyes  fell  upon  Fairfax,  who  stood 
at  the  foot  of  the  steps  looking  up  at  his  chief  with 
a  face  so  full  of  loyalty,  of  love  and  devotion  and 
yet  of  sadness  withal,  that  it  made  Penelope  think 
80 


Hearts  of  Gold. 

of  an  old  print  of  Saint  Sebastian  which  hung  over 
the  chimney  breast  at  Rosemary  Hall. 

An  instant  later  Bacon  himself  moved  forward 
and  stood  on  the  edge  of  the  porch,  and  as  she 
gazed  on  him  she  felt,  in  spite  of  herself,  the  force 
of  that  magnetic  influence  which  this  man  had  the 
power  to  exert  on  all  who  came  within  reach  of  the 
magic  of  his  look  and  voice.  Raising  his  hand 
with  a  gesture  which  struck  a  sudden  silence 
through  the  throng,  he  began  an  address  to  his 
soldiers,  speaking  with  rapid  and  impassioned 
utterance,  as  though  his  feeling  were  some  mighty 
torrent  striving  to  force  its  rushing  way  through  a 
channel  too  limited  to  contain  its  volume. 

"  Gentlemen  and  fellow  soldiers,"  he  said,  then 
paused  and  passed  his  eyes  over  the  ranks  with  so 
keen  and  individualizing  a  glance  that  each  man 
felt  himself  singled  out  and  noted,  "  how  am  I 
transported  with  gladness  to  find  you  thus  unani 
mous,  bold  and  daring,  brave  and  gallant !  You 
have  the  victor)'  before  the  fight,  the  conquest 
before  the  battle.  I  know  you  can  and  dare  fight, 
while  Berkeley  and  his  men  will  scarce  attempt  to 
hold  the  field  before  you.  When  we  have  beaten 
them  here  we  will  pursue  them  to  their  place  of 
refuge  at  Jamestown.  Your  hardiness  will  invite 
all  the  country  as  we  march  to  come  in  and  second 
6  81 


White  Aprons. 

you.  The  Indians  we  bear  along  with  us  shall  be 
as  so  many  motives  to  cause  relief  from  every 
hand  to  be  brought  to  you.  As  for  your  foes —  " 
here  such  a  tone  of  scorn  filled  his  voice  as  called 
the  indignant  red  to  Penelope's  cheek  and  wholly 
swept  away  the  dawning  sentiment  of  admiration. 
Luckily,  perhaps,  Bacon  did  not  look  up,  and  con 
tinued  unconscious  of  the  wrath  above  his  head : 
"  As  for  your  foes,  I  say,  the  ignominy  of  their 
actions  cannot  but  so  much  reflect  upon  their  spirit 
as  they  will  have  no  courage  left  to  fight  you.  I 
know  you  have  the  prayers  and  well  wishes  of  all 
the  people  in  Virginia,  while  the  others  are  loaded 
with  their  curses.  Come  on,  my  hearts  of  gold  ! 
He  that  dies  in  the  field,  lies  in  the  bed  of  honor." 

The  shout  which  greeted  these  last  words  told 
how  they  had  struck  home. 

"  Hurrah  !     Hurrah  !     Hurrah  !  " 

"  Bacon  forever  !  " 

"  Freedom  or  death  !  " 

"To  your  guns,  men !  "  cried  Bacon,  well  pleased 
to  see  them  thus  wrought  upon.  "  The  enemy  are 
approaching.  To  your  guns,  and  give  them  a  loyal 
welcome  from  the  cannon's  throat.  To  your  guns  !  " 

The  answer  to   Bacon's    words   was   the   deep 
booming  of    the    iron   cannon    which   swept   the 
82 


Hearts  of  Gold. 

Jamestown  road,  and  this  in  turn  met  a  sharp 
response  from  the  advance  of  Berkeley's  army. 

To  the  women  in  that  upper  chamber  at  Green 
Spring  the  hours  that  followed  seemed  years. 
The  trees  in  front  of  their  window  hid  the  scene 
of  the  battle  from  their  view ;  but  ever  and  anon 
they  caught  the  flash,  and  their  ears  were  perpet 
ually  assailed  by  the  booming  of  the  cannon,  the 
rattle  of  musketry,  and  the  shouts,  now  here  now 
there,  as  the  fortunes  of  the  battle  changed. 

Then  at  last  a  mighty  yell  broke  upon  them, 
a  shout  of  "  Bacon  !  Bacon  !  "  and  a  rushing  out 
from  the  gates  as  of  a  long-pent  torrent  told  them 
but  too  plainly  that  their  friends  had  wavered  and 
broken,  —  and  who  could  say  what  corpses  lay  along 
that  bloody  road  down  which  pursuers  and  pursued 
were  flying  like  the  wind  when  on  some  bleak 
November  day  it  whirls  dust  and  leaves  before  it 
till  the  eyes  are  blinded  and  the  breath  is  lost  ? 

One  heart  alone  in  all  those  within  the  mansion 
could  find  room  fora  thought  or  a  hope  in  favor  of 
a  rebel ;  but  Penelope  Payne,  as  she  stretched 
forth  from  the  window  and  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
flying  and  the  falling  figures,  cried  softly,  — 

"  Oh  may  God  spare  my  father  and  put  our  foes 
to  rout !  Yet  I  would  not  that  all  should  suffer." 

Her    heart  might    have    softened  still    further 

83 


White  Aprons. 

could  she  have  followed  the  battle  as  it  raged 
along  the  highway  and  straggled  through  the 
green  fields  now  red  with  blood  and  trodden  by 
hostile  feet.  She  would  have  seen  a  motley  rabble, 
which  Berkeley  had  striven  in  vain  to  transform 
into  an  army,  and  now  a  wild  mob  with  neither  dis 
cipline  nor  any  ruling  thought  save  how  to  secure 
once  more  the  shelter  of  those  walls  of  James  City 
from  which  they  had  come  forth  but  a  few  hours 
since  with  braggart  confidence,  thinking  to  put 
Bacon's  men  to  flight  by  the  mere  sight  of  their 
overwhelming  force.  But  they  had  little  known 
the  character  of  those  who  fought  against  them 
and  who  came  on  with  a  mingled  dash  and  disci 
pline  before  which  Berkeley's  troops  fled  like 
chaff  before  the  gale.  In  vain  their  gallant 
officers  called  to  them  to  stand  fast.  In  vain  the 
few  veterans  closed  together  and  led  a  desperate 
counter-charge.  The  main  body  was  routed,  the 
soldiers  falling  over  each  other  in  the  madness  of 
their  stampede. 

"  Turn  about !  "  cried  Drummond,  dashing  like 
a  whirlwind  upon  the  flying  foe  —  "  turn  about, 
and  let  us  have  a  look  at  your  white  faces  !  " 

"  Look  in  my  face,  then,  and  see  if  it  be  white 
with  fear  of  the  like  of  you."  Deep  and  steady 
came  these  words.  The  man  who  spoke  them 
84 


Hearts  of  Gold. 

had  stood  like  a  rock,  breasting  the  tide  of  retreat 
and  striving  to  turn  the  mob  rushing  back  to 
Jamestown. 

He  raised  his  pistol  as  he  spoke  and  took  cool 
aim  at  Drummond;  but  before  he  could  fire  Drum- 
mond  swerved  his  horse,  and  at  the  same  instant  a 
troop  of  Bacon's  men  came  flying  around  the  turn 
of  the  road.  A  pistol  shot  was  fired  and  struck 
Colonel  Payne  in  the  leg. 

Surely  he  had  fallen  on  that  stubbly  field  never 
to  rise  again  but  that  on  the  instant  a  gleam  of 
recognition  passed  between  him  and  the  young 
officer  who  rode  in  front,  his  fair  hair  flying,  his 
left  arm  bound  to  his  breast. 

"  Halt !  "  cried  Fairfax.  "  Touch  him  not,  as 
you  value  your  lives.  'T  is  but  this  morning  this 
man  hath  saved  my  life,  and  think  ye  I  will  see 
his  taken  thus?  Colonel  Payne,"  he  added,  turn 
ing  to  the  grizzled  warrior  before  him,  from  whose 
leg  the  blood  was  trickling  in  a  dark  stream,  "  't  is 
vain  for  one  brave  man  to  strive  thus  to  stem  the 
tide  of  battle.  You  have  done  all  that  valor  could; 
to  do  more  is  foolhardiness.  Get  you  on  to  this 
horse  of  my  orderly  and  rejoin  your  men  with 
what  speed  you  may.  Nay,  never  pause  nor  look 
so  doubtfully  !  Hereafter  you  may  meet  me  if  you 
will  in  open  combat  on  a  fairer  field,  but  it  were 

85 


White    Aprons. 

scarce  worthy  of  a  Virginia  gentleman  did  ye 
refuse  to  let  me  thus  pay  a  debt  of  honor.  What, 
hesitating  still  ?  —  then  I  do  adjure  thee  in  the  name 
of  thy  wife  and  daughter,  who  even  now  are  pray 
ing  on  bended  knees  in  yonder  upper  chamber  for 
thy  safety.  Ah  't  is  well,"  he  added,  as  he  saw  the 
Colonel  soften  at  this  appeal,  "  for  there  is  no  time 
to  lose.  Speed !  Speed ! "  Then  turning  he 
cried  aloud,  "  Come  on,  men  !  Let  him  go  his  way, 
and  do  you  follow  me  up  this  road  whither  I  saw 
Ludwell  and  his  command  in  full  retreat." 

As  they  dashed  forward,  Fairfax  whispered  to 
himself  :  "  To  the  end  —  war  or  no  war  !  " 

And  at  the  same  moment  the  lips  of  Penelope 
Payne,  who  stood  gazing  with  strained  vision  from 
the  window  at  Green  Spring,  were  framing  these 
very  words. 

There  are  certain  crises  in  our  lives  when  the 
soul  is  like  the  sensitive  plate  exposed  for  but  an 
instant  to  the  light,  yet  bearing  ever  after  in  its 
darkness  the  imprint  of  the  vision  caught  within 
that  moment.  So  it  was  with  this  maiden.  She 
had  looked  for  the  first  time  into  the  eyes  of  love, 
had  felt  its  glow,  and  caught  the  reflection  at  least 
of  its  glory.  In  an  instant  she  had  flung  the  dark 
ness  of  her  angry  young  heart  betwixt  her  and  the 
vision  ;  but  it  was  too  late. 
86 


Hearts  of  Gold. 

Not  yet,  however,  would  she  have  admitted  any 
such  thought ;  not  while  her  mother  lay  a  prisoner 
in  that  chamber  behind  her ;  not  while  her  father 
perhaps  stood  in  mortal  peril  from  the  weapon  in 
the  hand  of  the  man  whose  image  rose  so  impor 
tunately  before  her. 

But  when  all  this  storm  and  stress  had  spent  its 
force;  when  once  more  she  sat  alone  before  her 
spinet  in  the  peace  of  Rosemary  Hall ;  above  all, 
when  her  father,  who  had  brought  home  his  wound 
to  be  nursed,  told  how  he  owed  his  life  to  Bryan 
Fairfax,  —  then  the  tide  of  feeling  would  no  longer 
be  restrained,  but  burst  over  every  obstacle,  and 
overflowed  the  girl's  heart  in  a  tempestuous  wave 
of  mingled  hope  and  fear,  joy  and  woe,  pride  and 
shame ;  while  above  all,  like  Arthur's  sword,  with 
keen  edge  and  jewelled  hilt,  rose  the  longing  to  see 
him  once  more.  So  bright,  and  yet  so  sharp  with 
anguish  seemed  the  thought  of  meeting,  that  she 
could  scarce  tell  if  she  wished  or  feared  it  most, 
but  turned  away  her  thoughts  as  from  something 
she  dared  not  look  upon  too  near. 


CHAPTER  V. 

A   TRADER. 

"  Wilt  thou  give  to  me  thy  begging  coat  ? 
With  a  hey  lillelu  and  a  how  lo  Ian. 

*'  And  I  '11  give  to  thee  my  scarlet  cloak, 
And  the  birk  and  the  broom  blooms  bonnie. 

"  Give  me  your  auld  pike-staff  and  hat, 
With  a  hey  lillelu  and  a  how  low  Ian. 

"  And  ye  sail  be  right  weel  paid  for  that, 
And  the  birk  and  the  broom  blooms  bonnie." 

OF  all  the  laughable  absurdities  and  inconsist 
encies  which  beset  our  poor  human  nature, 
surely  the  passion  of  love  is  the  strangest  and  most 
unaccountable  in  its  freaks.  No  principles  can 
control  it,  no  prophet  predict  it,  —  prankish  as 
Puck,  wilful  as  a  spoiled  child,  uncertain  as  the 
will  o'  the  wisp  on  a  summer's  night.  If  there  be 
any  law  governing  it,  it  is  the  law  of  pure  contrari 
ness.  It  needs  only  that  all  influences  be  unfa 
vorable  to  set  it  aflame,  as  the  rubbing  of  stones 
88 


A  Trader. 

strikes  the  spark  for  the  savage.  Let  but  the 
Montagues  and  Capulets  be  at  daggers  drawn,  and 
straightway  we  have  a  Romeo  and  Juliet  ready  to 
see  a  curse  fall  on  both  their  houses,  if  they  may 
but  live  and  love.  So  it  has  ever  been;  and  so  it 
now  fell  out  as  naturally,  spontaneously,  and  inevit 
ably  in  Virginia  as  in  Verona. 

Bryan  Fairfax  was  conquered,  not  by  Berkeley's 
guns,  but  by  the  white  hand  of  Penelope  Payne 
stretched  out  to  him  there  at  Green  Spring  and 
Penelope's  voice  bidding  him  be  her  friend.  Weeks 
had  passed  since  that  day,  —  weeks  of  triumph  for 
Bacon  and  his  cause.  Joy  reigned  in  the  hearts  of 
all  his  followers  —  of  all?  No;  for  one  it  was  not 
so.  The  gladness  which  would  have  bubbled  over 
in  shouts  and  jests  aforetime  with  Fairfax  was  now 
sadly  sobered  by  the  thought  that  every  gain  to 
him  was  loss  to  one  already  dearer  than  himself. 
When  he  rode  up  the  streets  of  Jamestown  by 
the  side  of  Bacon  with  banners  flying,  and  saw  the 
torch  applied  to  the  wooden  houses  and  the  old 
church,  he  could  scarce  bring  himself  to  join  in  the 
cheers  which  burst  forth  from  the  invaders  as  the 
flames  mounted  to  the  sky  in  a  devil's  bonfire. 

His  comrades  noted  the  change  in  him,  and  won 
dered  much  thereat.  "  What  hath  come  over  Fair 
fax  ? "  asked  one.  "  He  that  was  the  foremost 
89 


White  Aprons. 

fighter  among  us,  gay  as  a  lark,  singing  and  shout 
ing  before  the  battle,  is  of  a  sudden  turned  woman 
ish  and  pales  at  the  sight  of  blood.  But  yesterday, 
when  I  would  have  kicked  out  of  my  way  the  body 
of  a  Berkeleyite  lying  stiff  and  stark  by  the  road 
side,  Fairfax  grasped  my  arm  as  though  I  were  a 
murderer.  '  Hate  the  living,  if  you  must,'  he  cried, 
*  but  spare  your  insults  to  the  dead ! ' ' 

"  Thou  dost  not  think  him  a  turncoat  ?  " 

"  Nay,  nay ;  none  durst  say  such  a  word  of 
Bryan  Fairfax.  Truer  or  braver  heart  never  beat. 
I  heard  him  say  but  yesterday,  that  he  would  shed 
the  last  drop  of  blood  in  his  veins  ere  he  would  see 
our  cause  fail ;  yet  the  more  victories  we  gain,  the 
more  he  mopes." 

"  Oh,  well,  belike  he  hath  a  turn  of  trouble  with 
the  stomach,  which  doth  oft  cast  down  the  heart ; 
but  when  he  hath  had  a  dose  of  physic  he  will  be 
glad  as  any.  He  cannot  help  it.  Why,  I  tell  thee, 
the  child  that  is  unborn  shall  have  cause  to  rejoice 
for  the  good  that  will  come  by  the  rising  of  the 
country." 

The  quick  ear  of  Fairfax  caught  a  word  or 
two  of  this  and  like  discourse,  and  his  proud  and 
sensitive  spirit  chafed  under  it.  He  longed  for 
some  chance  to  prove  his  hearty  loyalty,  and  he  was 
glad  when  the  opportunity  came. 
90 


A   Trader. 

One  night  he  was  bidden  to  Bacon's  tent. 
"  Fairfax,"  said  the  General,  as  he  entered,  "  I 
have  difficult  service  on  hand,  difficult  and  danger 
ous.  Knovvst  thou  any  man  fit  for  the  task  and 
ready  for  its  risks  ?  " 

"  I  know  not  if  my  powers  be  counted  equal  to 
its  demands,  but  of  a  surety  I  am  as  little  like  as 
any  man  to  be  afear'd  of  its  hazards  if  you  will 
but  honor  me  so  far  as  to  make  trial  of  me  therein." 

"  Ah  !  "  answered  Bacon.  "  'T  was  precisely 
thus  I  did  hope  thou  wouldst  be  moved  to  answer, 
—  though  thy  wound  is  so  lately  healed  that  thou 
mightst  well  crave  excuse  from  dangerous  service ; 
but  truth  to  tell,  Fairfax,  there  is  none  I  trust  like 
thee.  Nay,  not  even  Lawrence,  for  all  his  subtlety 
and  college  breeding  that  he  hath  brought  from 
over  seas.  Listen,  then!"  —  and  Bacon  lowered 
his  voice.  "  It  hath  come  to  my  ears  how  Berkeley 
hath  no  less  a  treasure  in  his  keeping  than  an  order 
from  the  King  for  the  delivery  of  my  commission." 

Fairfax  started.  "  Ay,"  continued  Bacon,  "  he 
hath  been  wont  to  keep  it  with  him  at  Green 
Spring;  but  at  the  prospect  of  our  coming  last 
month,  he  did  order  it,  with  other  papers  of  value, 
transported  to  the  plantation  of  Colonel  Robert 
Boynton,  in  the  heart  of  the  peninsula.  'T  is  a 
perilous  attempt  to  secure  it,  yet  'twould  help 

91 


White  Aprons. 

mightily;  for  the  chief  cry  against  us  is  that  we 
are  disloyal  to  the  King." 

"  Give  me  but  a  handful  of  men  and  we  will 
make  a  raid  on  the  place." 

"  Dost  think  we  can  afford  to  open  so  secret  a 
business  even  to  a  few?  No,  —  whosoever  goes 
must  go  alone." 

Fairfax  paused  as  one  who  weighs  his  words  and 
counts  their  cost;  then  he  said  quietly:  "7  will 
go,  and  if  I  come  not  again  'twill  be  small  loss 
save  of  the  commission,  and  it  shall  go  hard,  but  I 
contrive  to  rescue  that." 

"  Nay,  lad,  it  would  grieve  me  more  to  lose  you 
than  the  commission.  I  doubt  not  ye  would  make 
a  bold  fight;  but  'tis  to  your  craft  and  coolness 
rather  than  your  sword  or  gun  that  ye  must  trust. 
I  have  learned  —  ask  me  not  how  or  whence  — that 
the  commission  is  concealed  within  the  mansion 
itself,  but  in  what  portion  thereof  I  know  not.  In 
the  house  dwell  three  bachelor  kinsmen  of  Colonel 
Boynton.  The  three  are  widely  famed  for  their  giant 
strength  and  their  skill  in  fighting.  Two  of  them 
have  joined  Berkeley,  but  the  third  is  left  at  the  plan 
tation  for  the  guarding  of  the  paper  you  must  some 
how  secure  ;  but  how  to  do  it  —  I  have  no  advice  to 
give.  Alas,  't  is  so  easy  to  say  '  must '  —  so  hard  to 
show  how!" 

92 


A  Trader. 

"Sure  'tis  enough  for  one  man  to  carry  the 
whole  scheme  of  this  war  in  his  head  without  bur 
dening  his  mind  with  every  trifle.  Leave  these  to 
us  smaller  men.  I  will  set  off  this  very  night,  and 
ride  from  Gloucester  Court  House  here  to  the 
shore  of  the  York  River,  where  I  do  know  a  man, 
not  over  trusty,  but  he  may  serve  my  turn,  for  he 
will  ferry  me  across ;  and  thereafter  I  must  trust  to 
fate  and  my  mother  wit  to  help  me  out." 

"  This  very  night  say  you  ?  Have  ye  forgot  that 
'tis  Friday?"  asked  Bacon,  who  despite  his  reason 
shared  the  superstition  of  his  age. 

"All  the  better,"  answered  Fairfax,  lightly.  "I 
will  try  how  unlucky  a  day  I  can  make  it  for 
Berkeley;  and  methinks  when  he  finds  his  hand 
forced  in  this  fashion  he  will  wear  dust  and  ashes 
on  his  head  as  befits  a  fast-day.  Now  fare  you 
well,  General,  and  expect  me  not  till  ye  do  see 
me." 

"  Farewell,  lad,  and  God  be  wi'  ye  !  " 

It  was  near  morning  when  a  little  boat  put  out 
from  shore  on  the  York  River.  After  it  swam  a 
horse,  whose  head  struggled  bravely  through  the 
waves.  The  boat  made  its  way  swiftly  enough 
across  the  open  river ;  but  as  it  neared  the  shore  it 
moved  more  slowly,  like  a  live  creature  groping  its 
way,  till  at  last  its  keel  grated  on  the  sandy  beach 

93 


White  Aprons. 

where  the  waters  of  Queen's  Creek  join  the  wider 
and  deeper  tide  of  the  York  River. 

As  the  boat  touched  land,  Bryan  Fairfax  sprang 
ashore,  and  by  dint  of  tugging  at  the  rope  about  his 
mare's  head  brought  her  up  safe  and  sound  though 
shivering.  Snatching  a  rag  of  rough  wool  which 
lay  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  he  rubbed  her  down 
briskly,  saying  softly  in  her  ear :  "  Bravely  done, 
my  Peggy!  Ye  shall  have  a  scarlet  saddle-cloth 
and  a  silver  bridle  chain  in  honor  of  your  long 
swim  this  night,  if  we  come  safely  out  of  this  busi 
ness,  which,  betwixt  you  and  me,  Peggy,  is  a  ticklish 
one.  Ay,  my  beauty,  arch  your  neck  and  paw  the 
ground  with  pride !  Ye  are  like  the  rest  of  the 
females,  —  mightily  elated  with  the  prospect  of  new 
gauds  and  finery." 

"  Now,  good  Master  Boatman,"  he  added,  turn 
ing  toward  the  one  who  had  ferried  him  over,  and 
who  now  stood  in  the  stern  of  his  boat,  a  shadowy 
figure  against  the  growing  dawn,  "  here  's  a  bit  o' 
silver  for  you,  and  mind  ye  keep  a  still  tongue  in 
your  head  or  Bacon  will  find  means  to  still  it  for 
you.  Remember,  ye  are  to  be  at  this  same  spot 
to-morrow  night,  or  next  morning  rather,  in  the  dark 
o'  the  moon.  Hide  your  boat  and  yourself  under 
the  shadow  of  these  cypress  trees,  and  bide  quiet 
till  you  hear  me  whistle  thrice." 
94 


A   Trader. 

"  Ay,  sir.  I  '11  not  fail,"  answered  the  boatman, 
as  coming  forward  he  buried  his  oar  in  the  sand 
and  leaned  upon  it  as  he  shoved  the  skiff  back  into 
deep  water. 

Fairfax  stood  alone,  watching  the  ripples  part 
and  close  again  in  the  wake  of  the  retreating  boat. 
He  shivered  a  little  in  the  chill  morning  air,  drew 
his  cloak  closer  about  him,  and  kicked  idly  at  a 
stone  which  lay  beside  his  foot.  The  sun  rose 
round  and  red  across  the  river.  Still  he  stood 
there,  his  eyes  cast  down  as  if  the  answer  to  his 
thoughts  might  be  found  in  the  broken  shells  or 
the  heavy  overhanging  grasses  which  fringed  the 
beach.  At  length  he  said  to  himself:  <k  Verily 
necessity  is  not  only  the  mother  but  the  whole 
family  of  invention.  I  must  seek  some  disguise, 
—  but  what?  My  sword  first  of  all  must  be 
buried,  so  off  with  it  and  under  this  stone. 
Now  if  I  do  rub  my  skin  brown  with  the  juice  of 
yonder  berries,  and  dust  my  hat,  and  tear  my 
breeches,  and  turn  my  coat  inside  out,  I  may  per 
chance  trust  to  passing  for  some  indented  servant 
who  hath  strayed  from  his  master." 

So  saying  he  stooped,  and,  searching  in  the  deep 

grass  for  the  brown  berries,  he  pulled  them,  and 

rubbed  their  juices  on  face,  hands,  and  arms  till  he 

was  darkened  almost  past  recognition  by  his  oldest 

95 


White  Aprons. 

friend.  So  closely  was  he  occupied  that  his  ear, 
usually  swift  as  an  Indian's  at  catching  at  any 
sound,  failed  to  take  in  the  approach  of  a  horse  and 
rider  till  they  were  close  upon  him. 

"  Goot  morning,  stranger ! "  said  the  rider. 
"  Gan  ye  dell  me  if  dere  iss  any  ford  or  ferry  so  dat 
me  and  mein  horse  gan  gome  by  de  oder  side  off 
diss  riffer  ?  " 

It  was  with  infinite  relief  that  Fairfax  noted  the 
accent.  The  utterance  was  thicker  than  any  known 
in  Virginia,  and  the  rolling  of  the  words  in  the 
mouth  like  a  bit  of  Dutch  cheese,  too  large  either  to 
swallow  or  spew  out,  bespoke  the  dweller  by  the 
Kill  Van  Kull  or  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson. 
Looking  up,  Fairfax  found  that  the  voice  had  not 
deceived  him.  The  coat  was  longer  and  less  natty 
than  that  in  vogue  among  the  cavaliers,  the  hat 
plainer  and  broader  in  the  brim,  and  the  riding- 
boots  of  a  clumsier  make.  Nor  was  the  costume 
all.  The  load  bound  upon  the  horse  told  of  itself 
that  this  was  some  trader  from  Dutch  New  York 
bent  on  selling  his  wares  among  the  unthrifty 
Southerners  to  a  greater  profit  than  he  could  hope 
to  do  among  his  close-fisted  brethren  nearer  home. 
As  Fairfax  looked  at  him  a  light  flashed  into  the 
dark  corners  of  his  mind. 

"  Ye  will  find  no  ferry  here,"  he  answered,  "  and 


A  Trader. 

for  a  ford  ye  must  seek  many  a  mile  farther  up 
the  river,  and  even  there  ye  will  find  it  so  deep 
that  no  horse  loaded  as  yours  is  could  make  land 
save  at  the  bottom.  Now,  if  you  can  unbind  that 
bundle  and  leave  it  behind  —  " 

"  Leaf  de  boondle  behint,  is  it  ?  Goot  Gott !  I 
radder  stay  behint  myself  und  sent  de  boondle 
ofer.  Don  you  see  I  must  sell  dese  tings !  For 
dat  am  I  gome  into  dis  defflish  gountry  vot  got 
no  roads,  no  ferries,  no  cheese,  no  ganals,  no 
nodding." 

"  Then  you  would  like  to  get  rid  of  your  wares 
and  this  devilish  country  together,  and  as  speedily 
as  possible,  and  get  you  back  to  your  long  pipe 
and  mug  of  beer  and  your  Katrina  —  hein  ?  "  said 
Fairfax,  throwing  a  droll  imitation  of  the  Dutch 
man's  accent  into  the  last  word. 

"  Glat !  "  cried  the  trader,  his  eyes  bulging  and 
rolling  heavenward  till  nothing  but  the  yellow 
whites  could  be  seen.  "  But  you  do  but  make 
sport  off  me  !  " 

"  Sport  ?  Not  at  all.  I  do  be  much  in  earnest, 
as  you  shall  shortly  learn.  What  if  I  should  offer 
to  buy  your  whole  stock  here  and  now,  so  that 
you  could  ford  the  river  with  a  light  load  and  a 
heavy  purse  ?  " 

The  stranger  looked  at  him  out  of  his  dull  blue 
7  97 


White  Aprons. 

eyes,  keen  enough  to  suspect  a  cheat,  but  not  keen 
enough  to  detect  it.  "  Nay,"  said  Fairfax,  answer 
ing  the  look  as  though  he  had  spoken.  "'Tis 
neither  jest  nor  fraud.  The  truth  is,  I  have  long 
wished  to  set  up  in  some  trade,  but  unluckily,  my 
habit  is  so  fine  that  none  will  hire  me  for  service, 
believing  I  have  run  away  with  my  master's  cloth 
ing,  and  none  would  buy  of  a  pedler  in  a  velvet 
coat  and  breeches.  Now,  what  say  you  to  trading 
with  me  all  in  all,  —  save  for  the  horse,  which  I 
would  not  exchange  for  any  nag  living.  But  my 
trimmed,  rich  coat  against  your  baggy,  plain  one  — 
my  velvet  breeches  against  your  homespun  —  my 
plumed  hat  against  your  stiff,  broad  brim?  Think, 
man,  how  the  folk  along  the  Harlem  will  stare  their 
eyes  out  at  your  rich  attire  ! " 

The  trader's  eyes  sparkled;  but  in  an  instant  he 
recollected  himself.  "  But  how  goes  it  about  de 
goots  ?  "  he  asked,  as  one  who  had  long  ago  learned 
to  turn  too  fair  a  bargain  to  the  sun,  and  to  look 
twice  for  the  holes  in  cheap  cloth. 

"Ah— the  goods  —  to  be  sure,"  said  Fairfax 
slowly,  bethinking  himself  that  he  might  lose  all 
by  showing  over-much  eagerness.  "  Now  I  come 
to  scan  them  more  closely,  I  see  they  are  worn, 
and  belike  the  furs  already  stink  so  that  none  will 
buy.  The  furs  are  ill  cured,  I  should  guess,  the 


A  Trader. 

gilt  chains  are  very  brass,  the  tabby  velvet  hath 
no  sheen,  and,  in  short,  methinks  I  was  too  hasty 
in  my  offer,  so  go  your  way  and  I  will  go  mine.  I 
give  you  good  day  !  " 

The  bait  took.  As  Fairfax  grew  cool  the  trader 
grew  hot  for  the  bargain.  "  Poof,"  he  answered, 
"vat  you  call  vorn  iss  vere  de  fur  iss  so  dick  it 
press  itself  down.  Mein  Gott,  dey  iss  de  best  furs 
on  de  goast,  und  de  gloth  und  de  chains  iss  fine. 
Gome,  now,  vot  you  gif  for  dem  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  you  old  coon,"  thought  Fairfax,  "  you  '11 
get  no  offer  out  of  me,"  —  then  aloud  —  "  Oh,  I 
don't  know  that  I  fancy  them  at  all ;  but  figure  up 
the  cost,  and  I  may  consider  of  the  matter." 

"Veil,  den,"  quoth  the  Dutchman,  "it  take  me 
dree  mont  to  puy  dese  skins  off  de  nadives,  und  I 
risk  my  life  besides.  Den  I  must  gound  de  vear 
und  dear  on  my  horse." 

"  Oh,  yes,  yes,  I  know,"  broke  in  Fairfax,  grow 
ing  impatient;  "  count  in  at  thrippence  your  wife's 
grief  at  parting,  and  add  sixpence  for  the  baby's 
croup  caught  in  crying  after  you.  But  an  we  come 
not  to  terms  within  five  seconds,  the  business  is 
off." 

The  Dutchman,  accustomed  to  the  leisurely  ways 
of  Manhattan,  where  the  pleasures  of  bargaining 
were  extended  over  hours,  if  not  days,  opened  his 

99 


White  Aprons. 

mouth  wide  with  astonishment;  but  seeing  his 
chance  in  danger  of  slipping  through  his  fingers, 
he  pulled  his  faculties  together  with  a  desperate 
effort,  and  drawing  forth  from  the  wide  pocket  of 
his  coat  a  note-book,  he  fell  to  figuring  the  actual 
cost  of  the  furs ;  then  he  hastily  doubled  the  amount 
and  said,  "  Veil,  shoost  to  get  done  vid  dis  goundry 
I  lets  you  haf  de  lot  at  fifty  grouns." 

"  Fifty  crowns  !  Why,  man,  there  is  not  so 
much  gold  in  York  County.  Do  you  take  me  for 
some  Mynherr  with  an  iron  pot  full  of  money 
under  his  brick  floor  ?  No,  no  !  You  sure  have 
been  scant  time  in  Virginia,  else  ye  would  have 
learned  that  here  we  pay  our  debts,  when  we  pay 
them  at  all,  not  in  crowns,  but  in  pounds,  and 
pounds  of  tobacco  at  that.  Now,  which  will  ye 
have,  my  draft  on  General  Bacon  at  Gloucester 
Court  House  yonder  for  a  thousand  pounds  of 
tobacco,  or  these  five  gold  pieces,  bright  and  new 
as  the  pewter  in  a  Harlem  cottage?"  With  a 
keen  instinctive  knowledge  of  human  nature  in 
general,  and  Dutch  nature  in  particular,  Fairfax 
drew  forth  the  gold  as  he  spoke  and  jingled  it  in 
his  hand.  The  jingle  and  the  glitter  represented 
an  alluring  concrete  wealth  not  to  be  resisted. 

"  Take  id  all  den,"  cried  the  trader.  "  You  haf 
goot  drading  bloot  in  your  veins,  und  if  effer  you 

100 


A  Trader. 

gomes  to  Nieuw  Amsterdam  (vot  dey  calls  New 
York  now),  ve  beads  all  de  men  from  de  old  Fort 
to  de  Bowery.  " 

Thanking  the  stranger  for  so  fair  an  opening  in 
the  future  and  so  fair  a  bargain  for  the  present, 
Fairfax  lost  no  time  in  beginning  to  strip,  and  in 
short  order  found  himself  arrayed  in  the  loose 
flapping  coat,  wide  hat,  and  loose-fitting  boots  of 
the  Dutch  trader,  with  whose  help  he  shifted  the 
saddles  on  the  horses.  When  the  haughty  thor 
oughbred,  Peggy,  first  felt  the  heavy  load  on  her 
back,  she  shied,  and  pranced,  and  rubbed  against 
a  tree,  striving  to  scrape  off  the  hated  burden ;  and 
when  she  could  not,  she  but  curveted  the  more,  as 
if  in  protest  against  the  hardship,  for  a  horse  of 
her  pedigree,  of  being  put  to  such  plebeian  labors. 

Her  master  succeeded  in  soothing  her  somewhat 
with  the  magnetism  of  his  voice ;  but  when  he 
stood  before  her,  holding  out  a  bunch  of  sweet 
ferns,  she  looked  askance  at  him,  planted  her  fore 
feet,  and  pulled  away  as  from  a  stranger. 

"Good,"  said  Fairfax,  "'tis  the  first  tribute  to 
the  completeness  of  my  transformation.  From 
horses  and  children  —  very  young  children  —  you 
may  hope  to  learn  the  truth.  Now,  Master  Dutch 
man,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  trader  who  stood 
there  so  ill  at  ease  in  his  new  finery,  and  so  comi- 
101 


White  Aprons. 

cal  a  burlesque  of  the  recent  wearer  of  the  garb 
that  Fairfax  was  nigh  bursting  with  laughter  as  he 
looked  on  him,  "before  we  part  perhaps  you  will 
do  me  the  honor  to  tell  me  your  name." 

The  Dutchman  looked  at  him  out  of  the  corner 
of  his  eye  as  one  loath  to  part  with  even  a  piece 
of  information  which  was  not  in  the  bargain,  but 
at  length  vouchsafed  the  answer  that  he  was  called 
Van  der  Stosch. 

"Well,  then,  Mynherr  Van  der  Stosch,"  cried 
Fairfax,  gayly,  "  I  bid  you  good  day,  and  I  promise 
you  I  will  not  forget  your  kind  offer  of  furthering 
my  fortunes  if  ever  I  come  to  New  Amsterdam. 
Now,  to  make  you  unhappy,  let  me  whisper  in  your 
ear  before  we  part  that  I  know  a  market  for  these 
skins  where  I  can  sell  them  at  such  a  profit  as  will 
turn  you  yellow  with  envy  when  I  bring  you  the 
tidings  ! " 

So  saying,  Fairfax  rode  off  laughing,  and  leaving 
the  trader  standing  by  the  shore  uncertain  whether 
he  had  made  a  fool  of  his  companion  or  himself. 


102 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MONTAGUE   AND   CAPULET. 

"  O  Romeo,  Romeo  !   wherefore  art  thou  Romeo  ?  " 

SO  pleased  was  Fairfax  with  this  fair  beginning 
to  his  enterprise  that  he  rode  along  in  higher 
spirits  than  had  blessed  him  in  many  days.  Now 
he  trolled  snatches  of  song,  now  boylike  he  stopped 
to  call  a  quail  by  a  mocking  note  that  matched  its 
own,  and  laughed  to  see  the  eager  questioning  eye 
which  met  his  as  the  bird  looked  up  and  down  the 
road  in  search  of  its  missing  mate. 

His  mind  wandered  idly  from  theme  to  theme. 
He  recalled  Bacon's  words  uttered  on  the  day  of 
the  battle  at  Green  Spring,  and  was  sad  for  a 
moment;  but  then,  with  the  happy  shortsighted 
ness  of  youth,  dismissed  them  lightly  as  the  pass 
ing  whim  of  a  momentary  depression.  At  length 
he  returned  to  the  thoughts  in  which  his  mind 
steeped  itself  by  night  and  by  day,  —  thoughts  of  Pe 
nelope  Payne,  of  the  rosemary  which  she  had  worn 
103 


White  Aprons. 

3.t  her  breast,  and  which  he  might  have  picked  up 
and  did  not  (fool  that  he  was!),  —  of  the  kindness 
in  her  eyes  when  she  said :  "  Be  my  friend !  "  — 
of  the  glory  about  her  head  as  she  leaned  from  the 
window. 

Suddenly  the  hot  blood  mounted  from  his  heart 
to  his  temples,  and  he  gave  a  sort  of  gasp, — 
and  why?  All  because  he  remembered  on  the 
instant  that  Rosemary  Hall  stood  at  the  head  of 
this  creek  along  which  his  road  was  winding. 
'T  would  be  but  five  miles  out  of  his  course  at 
the  most,  and  he  desired  not  to  reach  the  Boynton 
plantation  till  nightfall.  Oh,  to  see  her  again,  to 
look  upon  her  once  more,  though  himself  unseen, 
unrecognized,  un thought  of  !  —  that  were  happiness 
indeed  to  set  a  man's  brain  reeling. 

In  the  wild  turmoil  of  his  new-born  eagerness, 
he  struck  his  spurs  so  deep  into  poor  Peggy's  side 
that  the  astonished  beast  gave  a  leap  that  was  like 
to  land  her  rider  in  the  ditch  by  the  roadside ;  but 
he  heeded  her  protest  not  a  whit. 

"  I  have  it !  "  he  cried  aloud.  "  The  letter  I  did 
write  three  nights  since,  when  I  could  get  no  sleep 
for  thinking  of  her,  is  among  the  papers  in  my 
wallet.  I  will  give  it  into  her  hand  by  stealth,  say 
ing  one  in  Bacon's  camp  where  I  did  stop  bade 
me  carry  it,  as  my  road  lay  this  way." 
104 


Montague  and  Capulet. 

Throwing  the  reins  upon  his  horse's  neck,  he 
drew  it  forth  and  read  as  he  ambled  along, 
though  the  paper  was  now  and  then  nearly  jerked 
from  his  fingers  by  the  roughness  of  the  road. 

"  Sweetest  friend  or  dearest  foe ! "  (so  it  ran) 
"  I  have  been  so  tormented  with  thoughts  of  thee 
since  ever  we  did  meet  and  part  yonder  at  Green 
Spring,  that  human  nature  can  bear  it  no  longer. 
If  thou  dost  not  send  me  some  word  or  token  to 
tell  me  that  thou  too  hast  sometimes  wasted  a 
thought  on  me,  I  shall  — "  (Here  certain  words 
were  erased.)  "  Tell  me  not,"  the  letter  continued, 
"that  my  love  is  too  sudden,  that  swift  come  is 
swift  gone,  or  any  such  thing,  for  I  tell  thee  this 
affection  is  so  woven  in  the  very  tissues  of  my  soul 
as  not  death  itself  shall  be  able  to  separate  it  and 
me.  But  for  thee  I  grant  the  time  has  been  o'er 
brief  for  me  to  cherish  hope  that  thou  couldst 
have  learned  to  love  me,  even  hadst  thou  had  no 
enmity  to  be  conquered  in  thine  heart.  Say  only 
that  thou  dost  no  longer  hate  and  I  am  satisfied  — 
no,  never  believe  it,  —  for  neither  that  nor  much 
more  will  content  my  greedy  heart,  —  yet  say  *  wait 
and  hope ! '  and  for  the  present  I  will  ask  no 
more.  Three  words,  —  three  little  words,  —  and  in 
exchange  I  offer  thee  a  heart  full  of  love  and 
devotion.  Good-bye,  my  friend.  Shall  I  not  dare 


White  Aprons. 

some  day,  when  this  unhappy  strife  is  ended,  to 
speak  those  dearest  words,  —  my  love,  my  wife  ?  " 

Having  finished  reading  over  his  letter,  Fairfax 
looked  about  for  some  means  of  sealing  it.  His 
eye  lighted  on  the  gum  oozing  in  a  glittering  sticky 
stream  from  the  bark  of  the  Norway  pine.  Dis 
mounting,  he  took  out  his  knife,  and  hacking  off  a 
great  drop,  he  made  from  it  a  rude  fastening  for  the 
folded  sheet.  This  done,  he  once  more  climbed 
into  his  saddle  and  urged  Peggy  into  a  brisk  trot, 
to  make  up  for  lost  time.  Before  an  hour  had 
passed  the  walls  of  Rosemary  rose  before  his  eyes. 

At  the  gate  he  alighted  and  took  his  horse  by 
the  bridle,  as  was  the  custom  amongst  pedlers 
when  approaching  a  house,  and,  his  heart  beating 
like  a  trip-hammer,  he  drew  near  the  porch. 
When  he  had  come  within  a  few  yards  he  lifted 
up  his  eyes  and  they  fell  upon  —  Col.  Theophilus 
Payne. 

How  did  Bryan  Fairfax  feel?  Much,  I  fancy, 
as  Romeo  would  have  felt  if  Signer  Capulet  had 
thrust  his  head  forth  from  Juliet's  balcony  when 
the  young  Montague's  foot  was  on  the  highest 
round  of  the  midnight  rope-ladder:  much  as 
Leander  might  have  felt  had  he  seen  Hero's  father 
waiting  to  help  him  ashore  on  the  unfriendly  banks 
of  the  Hellespont. 

1 06 


Montague  and  Capulet. 

Indeed,  it  would  be  idle  to  try  to  describe  the  sen 
sations  of  Fairfax,  —  for  he  himself  scarcely  compre 
hended  them,  so  overcome  was  he  by  the  shock  of 
surprise,  while,  mingled  with  his  emotion  came  for 
the  first  time  a  realizing  sense  that  to  gain  a  private 
end  he  had  imperilled  the  trust  confided  in  him. 
How  could  he  hope  a  second  time  to  be  forgiven  ? 
Even  his  love,  which  but  an  hour  since  had 
seemed  to  fill  the  whole  heaven  of  his  life  from 
zenith  to  horizon,  now  shrank  into  a  small  matter 
in  comparison  with  the  great  public  cause.  All 
this  flashed  through  his  mind  as  swiftly  as  memo 
ries  throng  past  the  mental  vision  of  a  drowning 
man.  But  he  found  himself  compelled  to  gather 
all  his  faculties  to  meet  the  present  crisis. 

Colonel  Payne's  first  words  gave  him  great  com 
fort  and  relief  in  the  complete  lack  of  recognition 
that  they  betrayed.  It  was  evident  that  no  shadow 
of  suspicion  had  crossed  his  mind,  no  connection 
of  this  wayfarer  with  the  young  officer  who  had 
ridden  into  Jamestown  a  month  ago,  bearing  mes 
sages  from  the  rebel  camp. 

"  How  now,  my  good  man  ?  "  began  the  Colonel, 
in  the  friendly  tone  of  easy  patronage  befitting  a 
gentleman  addressing  an  inferior.  "  These  be 
troublous  times  for  a  poor  pedler  to  be  wandering 
about  the  country  with  his  wares.  By  your  dusty 
107 


White  Aprons. 

garments  and  your  ungroomed  horse  I  judge  ye 
have  travelled  far,  and  by  your  fair  hair  and 
swarthy  skin  I  do  suspect  that  ye  be  a  Hollander 
from  the  colony  of  New  Netherland.  Is't  not 
so?" 

Strange  to  say,  Fairfax  was  wholly  taken  aback 
by  this  sudden  question.  It  had  not  dawned  upon 
his  mind  that  he  must  carry  out  the  r61e  of  Dutch 
man,  and  that  speech  and  manner  must  match 
with  boots  and  breeches.  But  now  he  realized 
that  being  in  deep  water  he  must  strike  out  or 
sink ;  so,  though  painfully  aware  that  his  accent 
fitted  him  as  ill  as  his  coat,  he  assented  in  broken 
English  to  the  Colonel's  question. 

"  I  fear  you  have  come  to  the  wrong  market,  for 
we  in  Virginia  are  too  poor  now  to  buy  aught  but 
necessaries.  What  is  your  name?  " 

Again  Fairfax  gasped,  and  again  he  snatched  at 
the  nearest  lie.  "  Van  der  Stosch,"  he  answered, 
taking  off  his  hat,  but  replacing  it  instantly  in  the 
fear  that  the  dye  might  have  escaped  his  forehead. 

"Well,  Master  Van  der  Stosch,  you  must  be 
mightily  dull,  even  for  a  Dutchman,  an  ye  have  not 
learned  in  the  course  of  your  travels  that  we  have 
a  rebellion  on  our  hands  here  in  Virginia ;  and  war, 
you  must  know,  eats  up  luxuries  faster  than  a  cat 
laps  milk." 

1 08 


Montague  and  Capulet. 

Fairfax  inquired  innocently  if  the  Indians  were 
making  trouble  once  more.  "  Pretty  well  I  "  thought 
he.  "  I  am  lying  with  a  smoother  and  more  trip 
ping  tongue.  These  confounded  2/s  and^w's  do 
more  confuse  me  than  the  prevarication." 

"  Nay,  man,"  answered  the  Colonel,  gravely, 
"'tis  more  than  any  outbreak  of  Indians.  'T  is 
what  is  called  a  civil  war,  though  why  it  should  be 
so  named  I  could  never  guess ;  for  sure  the  world 
ne'er  looked  on  anything  more  uncivilized  than 
this  warring  betwixt  brethren." 

Fairfax  felt  the  heart  within  him  so  choked  that 
he  dared  not  trust  himself  to  speak  for  a  moment ; 
and  while  he  hesitated  he  heard  a  light,  lilting 
voice  in  the  hallway,  caught  sight  of  a  flash  of 
white  drapery  on  the  stair,  and  an  instant  later 
beheld  a  pair  of  bright  eyes  peeping  over  Colonel 
Payne's  broad  shoulders,  which  well-nigh  filled  the 
entrance. 

"  Oh,  naught  save  furs  and  finery  !  "  exclaimed 
Penelope,  scanning  the  load  of  skins  to  which  Fair 
fax  had  turned  for  occupation,  hoping  to  hide  his 
trembling.  "  I  did  hope  the  man  had  pewter,  or  at 
least  wooden  ware  for  sale,  since  we  do  be  mightily 
in  need  thereof." 

"  Come  out,  my  darling,  my  rose,  my  sunshine  !  " 
called  Colonel  Payne,  showering  pet  names  as 
109 


White  Aprons. 

though  no  one  could  hold  the  fulness  of  his  tender 
ness,  and  his  face  lighting  up  as  if  a  ray  of  actual 
sunshine  had  crossed  it.  "  Come  out  and  talk 
with  this  poor  fellow,  who  I  fear  is  hugely  disap 
pointed  to  be  told  that  we  Virginians  have  no 
money  to  spend  on  furs  and  such  like  luxuries. 
I  for  one  am  well  content  with  bare  floors.  Still, 
for  thy  bedside  in  the  winter-time  I  own  I  would 
fain  have  just  such  a  carpet  as  that  brown  skin 
yonder." 

"  Nay,  nay,  father  mine !  You  must  not  strive 
to  spoil  me  thus.  It  were  ill  befitting  that  I  should 
be  wrapped  in  luxury  when  all  Virginia  goeth  bare 
of  comforts  and  even  necessaries." 

"  Methinks,"  said  the  Colonel,  smiling  and  strok 
ing  tenderly  the  little  hand  laid  in  his  own,  "'tis 
spoke  but  as  I  should  look  to  hear  my  daughter 
speak,  and  my  softness  is  rebuked  of  her  wisdom. 
It  is,  as  you  say,  no  time  to  consider  ourselves. 
Now  if  it  were  his  horse  the  man  was  wishing  to 
sell,  I  might  think  on  't ;  for  Berkeley  do  be  griev 
ously  in  want  of  transports,  and  I  have  had  no  good 
horse  since  Buck  was  shot  under  me  at  Green 
Spring." 

"  Ay,  father ;  and  sorely  have  I  grieved  over 
poor  Buck,  yet  withal  did  more  rejoice  for  your 
escape,  of  the  which  and  your  rescue  by  the  timely 
no 


Montague  and  Capulet. 

help  of  that  young  officer,  Bryan  Fairfax,  I  could 
hear  you  tell  forever  and  never  weary.  Even  for  the 
flesh-wound  I  could  be  glad,  since  it  gained  you 
this  leave  of  absence  to  come  home  and  be  tended 
by  mother  and  me.  Poor  mamma!  Methinks 
since  those  days  in  the  camp  she  do  fade  and 
pine,  for  all  I  strive  to  feed  and  cheer  her." 

The  Colonel  raised  his  hand  and  brushed  away 
a  tear.  "  Come,  come,"  he  said,  "  this  will  never  do. 
Say  no  more,  lest  ye  unman  me  quite.  Let  us  talk 
about  the  horse.  Penelope,  ye  have  as  good  an 
eye  for  horse-flesh  as  any  jockey  in  York  County. 
Look  close  at  this  black  mare  and  tell  me  what  ye 
think  of  her,  for  by  my  troth  she  looks  to  me  a 
horse  of  such  value  that  I  be  more  than  half  in 
clined  to  the  belief  that  the  pedler  hath  stole 
'her." 

With  this  Penelope  sprang  lightly  down  the 
steps,  her  father  tarrying  to  find  his  hat.  Fairfax 
turned  to  look  upon  her,  but  a  sort  of  mist  gathered 
before  his  eyes,  and  he  seemed  to  see  some  white 
angel  just  poised  ready  for  flight.  The  angel,  how 
ever,  had  a  shrewd  little  head  of  her  own,  quite 
awake  to  earthly  matters,  and  a  keen  eye,  which 
now  swept  over  the  horse  swiftly,  taking  account  of 
all  its  points,  —  the  free  floating  mane,  the  slim, 
sinewy  legs,  the  barrel  tapering  toward  the 
in 


White  Aprons. 

haunches,  the  delicate,  almost  transparent  ears,  the 
backward-turning,  fiery  eye.  Penelope  puckered 
her  pretty  forehead  in  thought.  Surely  —  surely 
she  had  seen  all  these  somewhere  before.  In 
sooth  Peggy  was  a  horse  once  seen  not  soon  to  be 
forgot ;  for  there  was  not  her  like  in  the  whole  of 
tide-water  Virginia. 

At  length  the  girl  opened  her  lips  to  speak ; 
then  swift  as  lightning  her  eyes  rose  from  the 
horse  to  the  master.  Fairfax  abandoned  hope  as 
he  caught  that  glance,  so  full  was  it  of  comprehen 
sion,  of  detection,  of  disdain.  Yet  he  threw  her 
back  a  look  as  haughty  and  uncompromising  as 
her  own, — a  look  which  said  as  plain  as  words 
could  have  spoken,  "  I  am  at  your  mercy ;  but  I 
ask  no  favor."  Whilst  Penelope  stood  with 
parted  lips,  uncertain  whether  to  speak  or  to  keep 
silence,  her  father's  voice  broke  the  pause,  saying : 

"  What  think  ye  ?  is  it  not  a  fine  creature  ?  " 

"Yea,"  answered  the  girl,  like  one  in  a  daze. 

"  Well,  then,  my  little  jockey,  I  will  leave  thee 
to  chaffer  with  the  trader  whiles  I  go  in  and  order 
a  mug  of  ale  and  a  trencher  of  bread  set  out  in  the 
kitchen;  for  I  warrant  both  man  and  horse  will  be 
the  better  for  a  good  meal."  So  saying,  the  Colonel 
turned  his  back,  ascended  the  steps,  and  entered 
the  wide,  hospitable  hall. 

112 


Montague  and  Capulet. 

"  Well,  sir,"  broke  out  Mistress  Payne,  "what 
have  ye  to  say  for  yourself  why  I  should  not 
denounce  you  to  my  father  for  the  spy  ye  are  ?  " 

"  I  have  naught  to  say,  Mistress  Payne," 
answered  Fairfax,  stonily  calm.  "  Denounce  me 
when  and  where  and  to  whom  ye  will,  yet  am  I 
not  come  as  a  spy  to  Rosemary." 

"  Indeed !  "  exclaimed  the  girl,  with  irony  in 
the  curve  of  her  lip  and  eyebrow.  "  Perchance  ye 
would  have  me  believe  you  what  your  wares  and 
habit  proclaim,  —  a  simple  tradesman  come  all  the 
way  from  New  Amsterdam  selling  furs  along  the 
road.  Let  me  see  —  I  think  I  heard  you  tell  my 
father  your  name  was  Van  der  Stosch  —  well, 
then,  Mr.  Van  der  Stosch,  I  would  have  you  know 
I  do  despise  you;  ay,  and  I  do  despise  myself 
well-nigh  as  much  when  I  remember  how  near 
I  was  once  to  feeling  —  "  Fairfax  could  hear  his 
heart  beat  while  she  paused — "yes,"  she  con 
tinued,  swallowing  hard,  "  lo  feeling  friendship 
for  one  who  called  himself  Bryan  Fairfax,  —  though 
perchance  that  too  was  but  a  name  assumed  to 
meet  the  purpose  of  the  hour." 

"  Say   no  more,  Mistress  Payne ! "  burst  forth 

Fairfax,  in  a  flame  of  rage  and  mortified  pride  and 

wounded  love ;  "  ye  have  already  said  enough  to 

make  me  feel  bitter  shame  that  I  was  so  weak  as 

8  113 


White  Aprons. 

to  imperil  business  of  mighty  moment  for  one 
glimpse  of  thee  and  the  chance  of  a  touch  of  those 
fingers  of  thine.  Fool  that  I  was  !  'twas  for  that 
I  have  been  riding  since  early  dawn,  't  was  for  that 
I  did  think  to  give  this  letter  into  your  little  hand. 
Yes,  look  at  me  again  with  scorn  in  that  curling  lip ; 
it  is  the  best  cure  for  my  fool's  passion,  which  I  do 
swear  to  stamp  out  as  I  now  stamp  on  its  avowal." 

With  this  Fairfax  drew  forth  from  his  breast  the 
letter  which  held  the  outpourings  of  his  love,  and 
with  a  quick  movement  he  tore  it  in  twain  and 
would  have  cast  it  under  his  heel;  but  Penelope's 
hand  stayed  him,  and  Penelope's  fingers  grasped 
the  torn  pieces  of  paper.  "  Give  me  the  letter," 
she  said,  speaking  low  and  quick. 

Fairfax  yielded  the  fragments  to  her  grasp,  and 
as  he  did  so  he  felt  the  anger  fading  fast.  "  Now," 
said  she,  "  look  in  my  eyes,  and  swear  if  ye  can 
that  you  came  to  Rosemary  not  to  plot  harm  and 
dark  designs  against  my  kith  and  kin,  but  solely 
and  only  as  ye  did  say  but  now,  to  look  on 
my  face  and  hear  my  voice." 

"  Penelope,"  answered  Fairfax,  coming  a  step 
nearer,  "  I  swear  I  could  as  soon  desire  injury  to 
myself  as  to  thee  or  those  whom  thou  dost  love. 
But  of  a  truth  when  thou  dost  bid  me  look  into 
thine  eyes,  thou  dost  forefend  my  thoughts  from 
114 


Montague  and  Capulet. 

dwelling  on  aught  else  but  just  my  great  love  for 
thee,  —  a  love  deeper  and  stronger  than  all  the 
floods  of  wrath  and  bitterness  which  do  rage 
around  us.  Say,  sweetheart,  do  my  words  find 
no  echo  in  thine  own  soul  ?  " 

"Oh,"  cried  the  girl,  as  one  whose  heart  is 
shaken  by  a  gust  of  passion  too  strong  for  her  and 
who  feels  her  foothold  losing  its  grasp,  "  ask  me 
no  such  question  —  I  know  not  how  to  answer 
—  wert  thou  not  a  rebel  —  but  no  —  already  for 
thy  sake  I  have  deceived  my  father  —  ah,  it  makes 
me  hate  myself  to  think  on  't.  Yea,  and  it  makes 
me  hate  thee  too." 

Fairfax  staggered  as  if  a  blow  had  struck  him. 
"Nay  —  I  meant  it  not ! "  cried  poor  Penelope, 
well-nigh  distraught.  "  But  make  haste  to  get  away 
from  here  lest  thou  be  seized  and  shot,  —  and  then 
what  were  my  life  worth  ?  " 

"  Ah,  Penelope,  say  those  words  once  more  !  " 

"  No,  of  a  truth  I  know  not  what  I  say ;  but  get 
thee  gone  and  I  will  explain  thy  going  somehow 
to  my  father —  more  deceiving  —  alas,  lies  do  come 
thick  and  fast  to  my  lips  which  till  now  have 
scorned  them." 

"  Penelope,  I  will  stay  or  go,  or  whatsoever  you 
do  bid  me,  but  speak  one  word  before  I  go  —  say 
only  «  hope  ' !  " 

"5 


White  Aprons. 

"  Nay,  not  a  single  word  will  I  speak,  —  at  least 
not  now.  Yet  I  would  not  have  thee  wholly  despair. 
Thou  shalt  shortly  hear  from  me,  —  so  much 
I  promise ;  but  for  the  purport  of  the  message  I  do 
promise  thee  naught.  Farewell!  Rebel  as  thou 
art,  my  heart  is  little  better  than  a  rebel  too. 
Farewell  I" 


116 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  KING'S   COMMISSION. 
Pereat  qui  me  laccssit. 

SO  shaken  was  the  mind  of  Fairfax  by  the  min 
gled  emotions  which  had  been  stirred  within 
him  during  his  visit  to  Rosemary  Hall,  that  when 
he  took  the  highroad  again  he  went  forward  in  a 
daze.  Like  a  child  with  the  petals  of  a  daisy,  he 
repeated  over  and  over  the  refrain,  —  "She  loves 
me  —  she  loves  me  not  —  she  loves  me  —  not." 
Monotonous  indeed  to  the  cool  bystander,  but  to 
the  anxious  heart  torn  by  alternating  hopes  and 
fears,  agonies  and  expectations,  the  whirlwind  were 
a  dead  calm  in  comparison. 

Morning  drew  on  to  noon  and  noon  to  evening. 
Fairfax  had  a  vague  recollection  of  having  paused 
at  the  hottest  height  of  the  sun  to  drink  by  a  brook 
and  eat  of  the  bread  and  meat  which  he  had  taken 
good  care  to  transfer  to  the  Dutchman's  wallet. 
Save  for  this  remembrance  of  eating  and  drinking 
117 


Wliite  Aprons. 

he  seemed  to  himself  to  have  been  riding  all  day 
in  a  trance,  like  Saint  Bernard  by  the  side  of  his 
Swiss  lake. 

The  rays  of  the  setting  sun  were  shining  long 
and  level  on  the  road,  and  lighting  up  the  under 
side  of  the  boughs  of  the  sombre  pines  which 
skirted  the  shores  of  the  Chickahominy  River, 
when  the  broad  open  gate  and  stone  posts  of  the 
Boynton  plantation  rose  before  Fairfax  and  told 
him  that  his  journey  was  accomplished,  and  that 
the  decisive  hour  of  success  or  failure  was  close 
at  hand. 

Dismounting,  he  eased  Peggy  of  her  load  and 
tethered  her  to  a  tree,  —  for  he  was  too  good  a  horse 
man  to  allow  her  to  partake  of  food  or  water  till  she 
had  rested,  —  and  he,  having  washed  off  the  dust 
of  travel,  and  with  it  the  stain  of  the  berries  from 
his  face  and  hands,  stretched  himself  out  on  the 
bank  by  her  side,  working  out  as  best  he  could  his 
plans  for  the  securing  of  that  which  he  had  come 
to  seek.  At  length,  rising  from  the  ground,  he 
drew  forth  a  small  sack  of  oats  from  the  saddle 
bag  and  tied  it  over  Peggy's  nose,  saying  as  he  did 
so,  "  There  may  be  work  for  you  this  night,  my  girl, 
and  oats  to  a  horse  are  like  toddy  to  a  man,  and 
do  lift  the  heart  over  many  a  hard  bit  of  road; 
therefore  will  I  feed  thee  myself,  and  trust  to  no 
118 


The  King's  Commission. 

lazy  hostler,  who  may  be  filling  thy  belly  with  hay, 
and  giving  thee  colic  with  over-cold  water  when 
thou  art  hot.  I  tell  thee,  Peggy,  much  of  what 
men  call  good  luck  lies  in  a  man's  trusting  to  it  as 
little  as  may  be." 

When  the  mare  had  finished  her  supper,  nosing 
eagerly  for  the  last  grain  hid  in  the  cracks  of  the 
seaming  in  the  bag,  Fairfax  took  the  bridle  over 
his  arm  and  drew  near  the  open  gate.  As  he 
turned  from  the  highway  (or  what  passed  in  Vir 
ginia  for  a  highway,  which  was  little  more  than 
a  track  marked  by  the  felling  of  a  few  trees  and 
the  blazing  of  a  few  more)  into  the  private  road 
within  sight  of  a  brick  house,  two  mastiffs  came 
dashing  down  the  drive  with  a  barking  which 
laid  Peggy's  ears  back  flat  against  her  head  and 
set  her  to  walking  circus  fashion  on  her  hind  legs ; 
but  ere  the  dogs  had  come  half  way,  a  sharp 
whistle  sounded  from  the  porch,  and  a  deep,  gruff 
voice  called:  "  Here,  Bruno!  Here,  Catnip!  Back, 
you  hell-hounds  —  damn  you :  I  '11  have  you  whipped 
till  the  blood  runs,  an  ye  rush  out  like  that  again 
unbidden!" 

The  dogs  thus  rudely  recalled  showed  the  human- 
ness  of  their  nature  by  their  worship  of  power. 
They  cringed  back  to  the  feet  of  their  master  and 
fell  to  licking  his  hands ;  while  he,  having  vented 
119 


White  Aprons. 

his  wrath,  turned  amiable,  patted  them  on  the  head, 
and,  holding  each  bv  the  collar,  moved  between 
them  down  the  road  to  meet  the  new-comer. 

"  Cloth  and  chains  and  silks  and  furs  for  sale, 
eh  !  "  said  he,  peering  through  the  gathering  dusk 
at  the  pedler  and  his  load.  "  Well,  I  am  in  want 
of  no  such  lollipops,  so  ye  may  as  well  move  on.  I 
wonder  not  that  my  dogs  were  fain  to  fall  on  you, 
for  ye  are  an  outlandish  figure  enough,  —  a  mongrel, 
I  should  say,  a  cross  twixt  Dutch  and  English. 
Which  are  ye,  anyway?" 

Fairfax's  morning  experience  warned  him  not  to 
attempt  again  the  assuming  of  a  strange  tongue 
wherein  he  ran  such  risk  of  detection,  especially 
should  any  by  chance  offer  to  hold  converse  with 
him  in  his  adopted  language ;  therefore,  putting  on 
a  bold  and  easy  manner,  he  made  answer :  "  I  am 
as  good  an  Englishman  as  you,  if  I  do  chance  to 
hail  from  a  Dutch  colony ;  but  I  would  have  you 
know  my  wares  are  for  sale  but  not  my  history, 
and  of  a  surety  neither  the  one  nor  the  other  is  to  be 
given  away,  nor  yet  to  be  worried  out  of  me  by  you 
and  those  infernal  dogs  of  yours.  Now  a  bit  of 
supper,  and  something  to  wash  it  down  withal,  were 
more  to  the  purpose,  and  methinks  would  comport 
better  with  the  tales  I  have  heard  of  Virginia 
hospitality." 

120 


The  King's  Commission. 

"  Come  in,  then,"  cried  Boynton,  with  a  round, 
mouth-filling  oath.  "  My  kinsman,  the  master  of 
this  house,  were  he  at  home,  would  send  you  out 
for  bit  and  sup  with  the  servants,  for  he  do  build 
much  on  his  blue  blood,  and  is  for  drawing  the  line 
mighty  straight  'twixt  the  gentry  and  such  as  you, 
and  his  lady  none  the  less;  but  she  is  fled  to 
Accomac,  and  he  gone  to  join  Berkeley,  so  I  am 
master  for  the  nonce,  and  having  been  brought  up 
as  't  were  in  a  tavern,  if  I  did  chance  to  be  born  in 
a  mansion,  I  have  had  opportunity  to  learn  that 
blue  blood  runs  monstrous  slow,  and  that  Bill  and 
Sam  and  Moll  and  Sue  at  the  ordinary  are  better 
company  than  Ma'am  Fine-airs  and  Master  Bag- 
wig  at  the  Hall,  —  besides,  now  I  am  forbid  to  leave 
the  plantation,  I  must  consort  with  such  as  come  to 
me,  or  else  gnaw  my  heart  out  here  alone." 

"  Tough  eating,  methinks,"  answered  Fairfax ; 
then  seeing  his  words  like  to  give  offence  to  one 
who  had  heavy  humor  enough  to  crack  a  jest  but 
not  sharpness  enough  to  get  at  the  meat  in  that  of 
another,  as  is  the  wont  of  those  who  tarry  too 
much  at  home,  he  made  haste  to  add,  "I  have 
gnawed  mine  so  oft  in  sheer  loneliness  that  I  know 
the  taste  well,  and  do  dislike  it  much." 

"  Come  in,  then,"  cried  the  host,  with  more  hearti 
ness  than  he  had  yet  shown,  —  "  come  in  and  bide 

121 


White  Aprons. 

the  night  with  me,  and  we  will  rub  loneliness  as 
calves  rub  noses  in  the  pasture." 

Pleased  with  his  own  wit,  Boynton  turned,  still 
chuckling;  and  as  he  went  before  him  Fairfax 
had  opportunity  to  mark  the  gigantic  height  and 
breadth  which  had  given  him  the  name  by  which 
he  was  known  far  and  wide,  of  "  Big  Boynton." 
When  he  reached  the  steps  the  giant  thundered 
out  a  call  for  the  hostler  in  a  voice  which  suited 
well  with  his  frame,  and  which  straightway  brought 
four  black  boys,  tumbling  over  each  other's  heels  in 
their  eagerness  to  be  first. 

"  Take  this  man's  mare  !  "  ordered  the  master  of 
the  house,  "  and  look  to  her  well,  for  I  have  not  a 
better  one  in  the  stable.  Rub  her  down,  let  her 
stand  an  hour,  and  then  give  her  supper." 

"  I  thank  you,"  answered  Fairfax,  "but  she  was 
fed  some  distance  back,  —  I  try  always  to  deal 
fairly  by  my  horse  if  I  have  to  pinch  my  own  belly 
to  do  it.  Sponge  out  her  mouth,"  he  added, 
turning  to  the  stable  boy,  "  and  let  her  stand.  I 
will  come  out  myself  after  supper  to  see  to  her ;  for 
she  and  I  have  wandered  about  the  world  together 
so  long  that  she  would  never  close  an  eye  an  I 
came  not  to  bid  her  good  night." 

"  So  be  it,"  said  his  host.  "  I  think  the  more  of 
a  man  who  looks  after  his  own  beast ;  I  do  the  like 
122 


The  King's  Commission. 

myself."  To  do  as  he  did  was  to  approach  the 
only  standard  of  perfection  Boynton  had  ever  set 
up.  The  stranger  was  growing  in  favor  moment 
by  moment. 

The  candles  were  lighted  in  the  dark  dining- 
room,  to  which  he  led  the  way.  Their  yellow  rays 
shone  on  a  great  mug  of  Delft  ware,  and  danced 
on  the  shining  circle  of  the  solitary  pewter  plate 
which  stood  at  the  head  of  the  table.  When 
Boynton  saw  it  his  brow  clouded  like  that  of  a 
spoiled,  angry  child,  who  expects  his  wishes 
understood  and  attended  to  without  his  taking  the 
trouble  to  make  them  known. 

"  How 's  this  ?  "  he  growled.  "  D'  ye  expect  two 
men  to  eat  like  dogs,  —  off  the  one  plate  ? " 

The  servant  made  answer  timidly  that  the 
stranger's  supper  was  set  out  in  the  kitchen. 

"  Fool !  "  shouted  his  master.  "  Think  ye  I  will 
waste  so  good  a  chance  to  catch  news  of  all  that  is 
stirring  in  the  great  world,  while  you  black  devils 
stretch  your  ears  to  take  all  in  by  the  kitchen  fire  ? 
Fetch  another  plate,  I  say,  and  another  noggin, 
and  if  you  care  for  your  carcass  be  quick 
about  it!" 

Boynton  brought  down  his  fist  with  a  resounding 
whack,  which  set  the  plate  spinning  on  the  table 
and  sent  the  man  even  more  hurriedly  to  the 
123 


White  Aprons. 

pantry,  whence  he  came  out  a  moment  later  bear 
ing  plate  and  mug,  together  with  a  steel  knife  and 
a  two-tined  fork. 

"  Fall  to  ! "  cried  Boynton.  "  Take  a  fork  and 
eat  like  a  gentleman  for  once." 

To  a  man  who  had  been  all  day  in  the  saddle  in 
the  keen  autumn  air  there  ordinarily  might  have 
needed  little  bidding  to  persuade  him  to  help 
himself  from  the  platter  of  cold  meat,  the  great 
trencher  of  bread,  the  smoking  bacon,  and  the 
bowl  of  hominy ;  but  Fairfax  could  not  brook  the 
thought  of  breaking  bread  with  the  man  he  had 
come  to  rob,  though  't  was  of  something  not  right 
fully  his ;  and  for  all  he  made  great  parade  of  help 
ing  himself  bountifully,  little  passed  his  lips,  and 
that  little  went  near  to  choking  him.  But  Boynton 
was  too  absorbed  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  own  meal, 
whereof  he  partook  till  the  veins  swelled  in  his 
forehead,  to  note  the  abstinence  of  his  companion. 
When  he  had  devoured  a  goodly  share  of  all  set 
before  him,  he  pushed  away  the  plate,  bade  the 
servants  set  on  more  wine,  and  then  leave  the  room 
and  plague  him  no  more  that  night,  which,  accord 
ing  well  with  their  sleepy  wishes,  they  accepted  as 
permission  to  be  off  to  their  quarters  and  abed. 

"  Oh,  and  I  say,"  called  the  master  after  them, 
"bid  Sam  leave  the  stable  door  open,  that  the 
124 


The  Kings   Commission. 

trader  may  look  after  his  horse  ere  he  go  to 
bed." 

"  Ay,  and  tie  up  the  dogs  in  their  kennel,  if  it 
please  you,"  added  Fairfax,  "for  I  have  no  taste  for 
such  a  greeting  as  I  did  receive  this  afternoon." 

"Ay,"  said  Boynton,  "off  to  the  quarters  with 
the  dogs !  And  now,"  he  added,  turning  toward 
Fairfax,  "  try  your  hand  at  the  noggin,  and  we  two 
will  show  our  strength  at  a  drinking  bout  wherein 
I  have  never  yet  met  my  match." 

Fairfax  felt  that  his  opportunity  had  come. 
Could  he  but  lay  this  guardian  under  the  table,  he 
might  prosecute  his  search  undisturbed.  "  But," 
thought  he,  "while  my  head  is  as  steady  as  the 
next  man's,  I  do  count  myself  no  match  for  this 
giant,  whose  looks  belie  him  if  he  was  not  suckled 
on  Madeira  in  place  of  milk." 

Boynton  filled  both  noggins  from  the  huge  pew 
ter  flagon  which  stood  by  his  elbow,  and  raising 
his  mug  to  his  mouth  drained  it  at  a  single  gulp, 
then  wiped  his  lips  with  the  back  of  his  brawny 
hand,  and  setting  the  noggin  down  hard  enough  to 
have  broken  a  daintier  vessel  in  a  thousand  frag 
ments,  he  cried  out,  "  Ha !  I  am  one  noggin  to 
the  good  already,  for  you  have  scarce  dipped  your 
nose  in  yours." 

"  Ay,  mark  yourself  down  one.     I  acknowledge 


White  Aprons. 

myself  so  deep  in  your  debt,"  answered  Fairfax, 
gayly ;  while  to  himself  he  said,  "  Methinks  he  can 
not  hold  out  long  at  this  pace,  for  drinking  is  like 
driving,  — a  swift  start  makes  a  poor  ending." 

"'Tis  a  huge,  noble  house,  this  of  yours,"  he 
continued  aloud,  letting  his  eye  roam  in  leisurely 
fashion  about  the  room.  "  We  see  little  of  such 
splendor  north  of  the  Delaware.  Our  gambrel 
roofs  do  cover  comfort  but  not  luxury." 

"  No,  no,"  answered  Big  Boynton,  with  the  smile 
of  one  who  counts  himself  and  his  belongings  far 
above  all  comparison  with  the  world  outside  his 
own  plantations.  "  Of  course  there  be  no  province 
like  Virginia;  but  for  the  matter  o'  that,  ye  will 
not  find  many  mansions  in  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  Old  Dominion  so  fine  as  this." 

"  I  do  credit  it  well.  Troth  it  must  have  seven 
or  eight  rooms." 

"  Seven  or  eight,  man !  I  would  have  you  know 
it  hath  thirteen,  besides  the  offices  set  off  by  them 
selves  in  other  buildings."  Here  the  giant  paused, 
and  poured  out  another  nogginful  of  the  liquor 
with  a  triumphant  wink  at  Fairfax,  who  took  pains 
to  open  wide  his  mouth  and  eyes  in  amazement, 
exclaiming,  "  Why,  it  were  a  mansion  fit  for  the 
Duke  of  York,  in  whose  honor  our  colony  of  New 
Netherland  is  new  named.  I  remember  me  once 
126 


The  King's  Commission. 

of  being  taken  through  his  palace  in  London,  and 
't  was  so  full  of  passages  and  secret  closets  a  man 
might  have  lain  hid  therein  for  fifty  years  and  none 
suspicioned  him.  I  suppose  many  great  houses  be 
like  that,  for  I  was  told  while  Charles  was  over 
the  water  some  of  his  father's  crown  jewels  lay 
under  Oliver's  big  nose  in  the  very  closet  where 
he  was  wont  to  say  his  canting,  long-winded  prayers. 
By  the  way,  how  runs  that  motto  carved  on  the 
mantel-breast  behind  you  ?  " 

Boynton  twisted  himself  about  heavily  in  his 
chair;  and  while  his  back  was  turned,  Fairfax 
deftly  upset  the  contents  of  his  noggin  under  the 
table.  "  Ah  ha !  "  thought  he,  "  't  was  not  for 
naught  I  did  read  in  my  youth  the  tale  of  Jack 
and  how  he  overcame  the  giant."  Then  aloud, 
"  Fill  me  another  noggin,  mine  host,  and  let  me 
see  thee  take  of  that  one  of  thine." 

As  Boynton  drank,  Fairfax  could  see  that  a 
slight  film  was  gathering  over  his  eyes,  his  cheek 
was  flushing,  his  utterance  growing  thicker,  and  his 
confidences  more  garrulous. 

"  That  motto,"  said  he,  "  is  not  for  ignorant  fel 
lows  like  you  to  read.  It  is  writ  in  Latin,  which 
being  a  dead  language  this  thousand  years,  is  apt 
to  stink  when  't  is  dug  up,  and  therefore  have  I  let 
it  more  or  less  alone  myself,  though  I  had  as  much 
127 


White  Aprons. 

schooling  as  becomes  the  son  of  a  Virginia  gentle 
man,  — which,  between  me  and  you  and  yonder  post, 
is  little  enough.  But  for  this  motto,  being  that  of 
our  house,  I  made  out  to  decipher  and  learned  it 
by  heart,  and  faith  'tis  a  good  one,  — ' Pereat 
qui  me  lacessitj '  that  means,  He  that  harms  a 
Boynton  is  as  good  as  a  dead  man." 

"  So,"  said  Fairfax,  "it  is  well  to  warn  all  comers 
who  would  trespass  by  thus  printing  of  their  fate 
before  their  eyes."  Boynton  looked  at  him  close 
to  make  sure  if  he  were  in  jest ;  but  Fairfax's  face 
was  as  solemn  as  a  tombstone. 

"  As  for  what  ye  were  saying  of  Charles,"  quoth 
Boynton,  lying  back  in  his  chair,  "  I  do  think  him 
after  all  a  fool  for  his  pains.  '  Set  a  man  to  nosing 
round  like  a  ferret,'  say  I, '  and  ye  put  him  on  the 
scent  at  once  for  some  secret.'  Now  if  I  had  aught 
to  hide,  —  which  were  little  likely  in  this  poor 
country,  where  all  the  wealth  is  underground,  —  but 
if  any  shrewd  man  had  such  a  treasure,  he  'd  bet 
ter  set  it  somewhere  in  easy  reach,  just  about  a 
room  in  plain  sight  perchance." 

Fairfax  closed  his  eyes  lest  the  light  therein 
should  betray  him.  "  Ay,"  said  he,  stretching  his 
arms  above  his  head  and  yawning  wide  enough  to 
show  his  back  teeth,  "  ye  are  a  wise  man,  master ; 
'tis  a  pity  there  is  so  little  treasure  here  to  try 
128 


The  Kings   Commission. 

your  craft  on :  we  in  New  Netherland  have  more 
need  of  something  to  hide  than  of  a  hiding-place. 
The  squirrels  are  the  only  misers  among  us,  —  but 
I  am  growing  so  heavy  with  sleep  that  I  must  soon 
crave  your  permission  to  retire  vanquished  from 
our  drinking  bout  with  the  confession  that  ye  are 
the  valiantest  man  at  both  trencher  and  noggin  I 
did  e'er  encounter ;  yet  before  I  go  I  would  fain 
see  you  drain  one  more  mug,  that  I  may  have 
the  larger  tale  to  tell  when  I  am  returned 
home. " 

Pleased  to  receive  the  palm  for  the  noble  virtues 
of  gluttony  and  wine-bibbing,  Boynton  filled  his 
noggin,  drank  deep,  and  held  it  upside  down  to 
prove  that  the  last  drop  was  gone;  but  even  as  he 
did  so,  the  red  eyelids  closed,  the  head  fell  heavily 
forward  on  his  breast,  and  the  drunken  snore  told 
that  the  liquor  had  done  its  work. 

The  faculties  of  Fairfax,  on  the  contrary,  were 
alert.  "  No  time  to  lose,"  thought  he.  "  Let  me 
consider  —  an  open  place  —  that  might  be  in  this 
very  room,  —  under  the  hearth  ?  No,  the  dullest 
thief  would  search  there  first.  Perchance  there 
openeth  a  cupboard  behind  that  portrait  of  the  old 
gentleman  whose  ruffles  swell  out  like  a  pouter 
pigeon.  Methinks  he  smiles  a  little  as  the  fire 
plays  on  his  face.  Come  on,  then,  Sir  Whatever 
9  129 


White  Aprons. 

Your  Name;  stiff  as  you  look  you  shall  move,  I 
swear,  and  give  me  a  chance  to  see  what  you 
cover !  " 

He  rose  cautiously  and  turned  the  Boynton 
ancestor  to  the  wall ;  but  no  paper  was  tucked  into 
the  corner  of  the  frame.  He  turned  to  the  wains 
cot  and  tapped  it  with  his  knuckle ;  but  the  join 
ings  were  close,  and  no  crack  or  crevice  gave 
evidence  of  any  hiding-place  within.  He  stooped 
and  felt  along  the  under-side  of  every  chair-seat ; 
except  for  the  roughness  of  the  wood  the  two 
sides  were  alike.  He  flung  open  the  door  of  the 
cupboard  ;  every  shelf  was  bare.  Then  a  sudden 
frenzy  of  impotent  rage  seized  him.  To  be  so 
near  success  and  yet  to  fail,  —  oh,  it  was  intoler 
able  !  But  it  was  not  in  the  nature  of  a  Fairfax  to 
dwell  long  on  the  idea  of  failure.  He  clung  to  his 
purpose  with  the  tenacity  of  a  bull-dog.  The 
commission  he  had  come  to  seek,  and  the  commis 
sion  he  must  have,  —  yes,  if  he  hired  himself  out 
as  a  servant  to  the  lump  of  clay  in  yonder  chair. 
He  would  dog  his  footsteps,  live  with  him  by  day 
and  night,  share  his  dull  company,  bear  his  coarse 
abuse  and  coarser  familiarity, — but  that  commis 
sion  he  would  have. 

The  Dutch  clock  which  hung  high  upon  the 
wall  struck  the  hour  of  half-past  eleven.  His 
130 


The  Kings  Commission. 

heart  in  his  mouth,  Fairfax  waited  to  see  if  its 
tone  disturbed  the  sleeper;  but  Boynton  only 
turned  drowsily  in  his  chair,  threw  back  his  head, 
and  snored  the  louder.  "First  of  all,"  thought 
Fairfax,  "we  must  stop  that.  The  next  stroke 
will  be  on  the  hour  of  midnight,  which  may  fall  in 
the  middle  of  my  search,  and  I  dare  not  trust  twelve 
strokes  even  on  ear  as  dead  in  drunkenness  as  his." 
As  Fairfax  looked  anxiously  at  the  face  of  the 
clock,  the  jolly  round  Dutch  moon  in  one  corner 
seemed  to  be  smiling  in  derision  of  his  plight ;  but 
as  he  looked,  suddenly  his  gaze  grew  fixed,  —  not 
by  that  stolid  painted  countenance,  but  by,  some 
thing  in  the  opposite  corner,  where  a  round  hole 
of  the  size  of  a  bull's  eye  had  been  rudely  cut  out, 
and  was  filled  by  a  figured  red  disk,  which  ordi 
narily  would  have  attracted  no  attention,  save  as 
some  bright-colored  decoration  set  in  to  balance 
the  apple-cheeked  moon;  but  now,  to  the  heated 
fancy  of  Fairfax  it  took  on  the  semblance  of  a  state 
seal.  Oh,  could  it  be  that  fortune,  in  very  raillery 
at  his  vaunted  cunning,  had  thrust  this  treasure 
into  his  hand  as  into  that  of  one  too  dull  to  find 
it  for  himself !  Yes,  he  saw  it  all  now.  No  better 
hiding-place  could  be  devised;  for  here  a  paper 
tucked  away  in  the  top  of  the  clock,  yet  peeping 
out  at  this  hole,  was  always  under  the  eye  of  its 


White  Aprons. 

guardian.  Verily  this  Boynton  was  not  the  stupid 
oaf  he  had  seemed,  or  else  he  —  Fairfax — was  the 
duller  of  the  two. 

Stretching  up  his  arm,  Fairfax  first  of  all  made 
haste  to  stay  the  pendulum,  fearing  lest  the  very 
ticking  should  awaken  the  sleeper  at  the  critical 
moment.  Then  climbing  upon  a  chair  he  reached 
over  the  high  carved  top  with  its  brass  balls,  and, 
grasping  the  paper,  drew  it  forth  with  trembling 
hand.  As  he  opened  it,  all  doubts  ceased,  for 
there  was  the  name  of  Nathaniel  Bacon  written  in 
a  clerkly  hand,  and  a  great  Charles  R.  sprawled  at 
the  foot  of  the  page. 

Thrusting  the  precious  paper  into  his  bosom, 
Fairfax  drew  off  his  boots  and  stole  with  noiseless 
foot-fall  across  the  floor.  As  he  went,  his  eye  fell 
by  chance  upon  the  motto  on  the  mantel-breast: 
"  Per  eat  qui  vie  lacessit"  In  his  exultation  he 
shook  his  boots  first  at  it,  then  at  the  portrait  on 
the  wall,  as  if  bidding  defiance  to  the  whole  house 
of  Boynton.  From  the  dining-room  he  passed  into 
the  saloon,  unlighted  save  by  the  moon,  which, 
however,  shone  brightly  enough  through  the  win 
dow  to  show  him  the  way  to  the  door.  To  his 
joy  he  found  it  unlocked ;  but  as  he  stirred  the 
handle  it  creaked,  and  Fairfax  started  with  such 
an  alarm  as  shook  the  hearts  of  Christian  and 
132 


The  King's  Commission. 

Hopeful  when  the  gate  of  Giant  Despair's  castle 
grated  on  its  hinges  at  their  flight. 

For  one  second  Fairfax  stopped  and  listened; 
then  hearing  no  sound  save  that  made  by  the 
crickets  and  tree-toads  without,  he  pushed  the 
door  boldly  open,  and  rejoiced,  like  Hopeful,  to 
find  that  it  made  less  noise  at  the  bold  thrust 
than  at  the  timid  attempt.  Across  the  green  he 
crept,  striving  to  keep  as  much  as  possible  in  the 
shadow  of  the  house ;  for  the  moon  made  every 
object  on  which  its  light  fell,  clear  as  day.  Past 
the  out-buildings  he  strode,  and  groped  his  way 
through  the  gloom  of  the  pine  woods  to  the  stable 
door.  "  What  if  the  stable  men  were  still  on 
duty !  What  if  the  dogs  were  loose  !  "  But  no ; 
all  was  silent,  save  that  as  he  opened  the  door 
Peggy  turned  her  head  and  whinnied  low. 

"  Be  quiet,  Peggy !  "  he  said  softly,  while  he 
stroked  the  nose  she  laid  against  his  shoulder  as 
he  rapidly  slipped  the  bridle  over  her  neck.  "  We 
will  leave  the  saddle  and  all  our  Dutch  trappings 
behind,"  said  he,  "  and  I  will  try  if  I  have  forgot 
the  trick  of  bareback  riding." 

Feeling  once  more  in  his  bosom  to  make  sure 
of  the  paper,  he  threw  off  his  coat  and  stepped 
noiselessly  across  the  turf,  and,  leading  Peggy  by 
the  bridle,  passed  down  the  dark  path  and  out  at 

133 


White  Aprons. 

the  gate.  Once  fairly  on  the  open  road,  he 
stopped,  and  leaping  on  Peggy's  back  he  cried, 
"  Now  for  it !  't  is  a  ride  for  life,  and  for  that 
which  is  worth  more  than  both  our  lives,  my 
girl!" 

On  they  sped,  past  field  and  forest.  Ever  and 
anon  Fairfax  paused,  more  than  half  expecting  to 
hear  galloping  hoofs  and  dogs  in  full  cry;  but 
save  for  a  startled  deer  trampling  the  underbrush 
in  haste  to  get  away,  no  sound  broke  on  his  ear. 
Boynton  still  slept  his  drunken  sleep,  and  the 
hands  of  the  old  Dutch  clock  still  marked  the  half- 
hour  after  eleven. 

"  A  fig  for  the  Boynton  motto !  "  cried  Fairfax, 
as  he  drew  rein  at  last  by  the  little  strip  of  beach 
whence  he  had  set  out  less  than  twenty-four  hours 
ago.  "  I  seem  to  have  escaped  its  curse  un 
scathed." 

The  moon  had  set,  and  the  darkness  was  so 
great  that  save  for  the  whiteness  of  the  sand 
Fairfax  would  have  been  in  some  doubt  whether 
he  had  found  the  meeting-place ;  but  as  he  whistled 
thrice  the  familiar  skiff  put  out  from  under  the. 
cypress  trees,  and  Fairfax  leaped  aboard,  holding 
Peggy  by  the  bridle.  In  the  darkness  he  could 
discern  nothing  more  than  the  figure  of  the  boat 
man  muffled  to  the  eyes  in  his  great  cloak.  He 
134 


The  Kings  Commission. 

nodded  but  spoke  not  as  Fairfax  sank  into  the 
stern,  too  weary  for  greeting ;  but  his  mind  was 
full  of  satisfaction.  Fortune  had  favored  him 
throughout.  Despite  the  rashness  of  his  visit  to 
Rosemary,  he  could  not  regret  it,  —  for  had  it  not 
brought  him  assurance  beyond  his  wildest  hopes 
of  Penelope's  favor?  Even  this,  he  felt,  would 
have  been  too  dearly  bought  had  it  hampered  in 
the  least  his  mission;  but  no,  that  was  done, 
accomplished  with  brilliant  success.  Now  there 
was  naught  before  him  but  to  rest  his  tired  body 
and  rejoice  in  the  thought  of  Bacon's  joy.  This 
suggestion  of  his  chief's  delight  brought  new  vigor, 
and  sitting  up  for  the  first  time  Fairfax  saw  that 
the  stream  was  more  than  half  crossed,  but  saw 
also  with  surprise  that  the  boatman  had  drawn  in 
his  oars.  As  Fairfax  lifted  his  eyes  they  looked 
straight  into  the  barrel  of  a  pistol  held  level  with 
his  face.  Treachery  !  —  it  took  him  but  a  fraction 
of  a  second  to  see  that,  and  less  than  the  same 
time  to  decide  upon  his  own  course.  What  man 
this  was  before  him,  who  had  betrayed  him,  or 
what  had  been  the  motive,  he  had  no  time  to  con 
jecture,  —  death  stared  him  in  the  face. 

Luckily  for  Fairfax,  he  had  a  swiftness  of  per 
ception  which  waited  not  on  the  slow  workings  of 
reason.  Instinct  told  him  that  one  thing  only 

135 


White  Aprons. 

could  save  him,  and  that  one  thing  he  did  like 
a  flash  of  lightning,  —  he  capsized  the  skiff  I 

As  the  boat  turned,  the  boatman,  after  flounder 
ing  for  some  moments,  caught  the  gunwale,  and 
clambering  upon  the  keel  bestrode  it  in  safety, 
while  the  brisk  breeze  blew  him  steadily  down 
stream.  Waiting  not  to  inquire  into  his  fate, 
Fairfax  kicked  off  the  Dutchman's  big  boots, 
struck  out  lustily  for  the  Gloucester  bank,  and 
Peggy  followed  loyally.  The  water  was  cold,  and 
Fairfax,  wearied  as  he  was  by  the  day's  work,  had 
scarce  force  to  resist  its  benumbing  chill.  As  he 
felt  his  limbs  stiffening  and  his  faculties  growing 
drowsy,  his  mind  dwelt  strangely  on  the  motto 
over  the  fireplace  at  the  Boynton  plantation,  — 
"  Death  to  him  who  harms  me ! "  He  was  not 
free  from  the  superstition  of  his  age,  but  he  set  his 
teeth  in  stern  resolve  to  disprove  the  omen.  He 
could  not,  he  'would  not,  die  till  he  had  placed 
the  paper  in  Bacon's  hands;  then  let  the  curse 
fall  when  it  would. 

Yet  the  last  two  rods  proved  almost  too  much 
even  for  his  iron  will ;  and  when  he  felt  land 
beneath  him  he  could  scarce  gather  strength  to 
wade  ashore,  but  was  like  to  have  drowned  in 
three  feet  of  water.  His  horse  was  well-nigh  as 
exhausted  as  himself,  —  together  they  sank  on  the 

136 


The  King's  Commission. 

pebbly  strand,  quite  vanquished  by  fatigue;  but 
Fairfax  felt  in  his  soul  a  mighty  joy  and  thank 
fulness,  which  rose  superior  to  all  bodily  weakness, 
which  overmastered  all  anger,  all  curiosity  as  to  the 
how  and  why  of  the  boatman's  treachery  —  all  this 
could  wait ;  nothing  mattered  much,  for  —  he  had 
the  King's  Commission. 


137 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

LAODICEANS. 
"  I  would  that  ye  were  either  hot  or  cold." 

IT  was  after  sunrise  before  Fairfax  had  recovered 
from  his  exhaustion  enough  to  push  on.  Rising 
at  length  from  his  hard  bed,  he  limped  along  pain 
fully,  holding  Peggy  by  the  bridle.  On  his  way  he 
passed  the  hut  of  the  boatman.  As  he  had  antici 
pated,  it  was  empty.  The  owner  had  fled.  "  Gone 
to  join  Berkeley  I  'd  be  sworn,"  muttered  Fairfax. 
"Well,  I  wish  His  Excellency  joy  of  the  addition 
to  his  forces.  Could  we  send  him  all  the  other 
traitors  in  our  camp  it  would  be  more  gain  to  our 
cause  than  the  winning  of  a  pitched  battle." 

A  little  farther  on  Fairfax  came  upon  the  house 
of  a  farmer,  who  gladly  gave  him  breakfast, 
together  with  grain  and  watering  and  a  soft  bed 
on  the  hay  for  Peggy.  Richly  did  man  and 
horse  enjoy  their  well-earned  rest;  but  when  the 
sun-dial  before  the  farmer's  house  marked  eleven, 
Fairfax's  eagerness  and  impatience  got  the  better 
133 


Laodiceans. 

of  bodily  fatigue,  and  he  resolved  to  attempt  the 
five-mile  journey  which  lay  between  him  and 
Gloucester  Court  House,  where  Bacon's  camp  lay. 
Short  as  the  distance  was,  it  was  yet  no  trifle  for 
a  man  whose  horse  was  jaded  with  travel  and 
whose  limbs  were  aching  in  every  joint  from  cold 
and  weariness.  So  slowly  did  they  journey  that 
noon  was  long  overpast  when  they  reached  the 
camp.  A  very  different  figure  was  this  dusty, 
way-worn,  bedraggled  traveller  from  the  gallant, 
bravely  clad  soldier  who  had  set  out  thence  less 
than  two  days  since. 

The  sentry  looked  and  wondered  at  him  as  he 
passed,  scarcely  recognizing  him  ;  but  he  would  not 
in  any  case  have  stopped  him,  for  General  Bacon 
had  this  day  summoned  all  the  men  of  Gloucester 
County  to  meet  him  at  the  Court  House,  to  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  himself  and  swear  to 
oppose  the  forces  of  Sir  William  Berkeley,  as 
well  as  any  troops  coming  out  of  England, 
until  they  should  have  opportunity  to  learn  the 
King's  will.  This  last  clause  in  the  oath  which 
Bacon  would  have  them  take  troubled  the  Glouces 
ter  men;  for  read  it  as  they  might,  and  with 
whatever  juggle  of  plausible  interpretation  subtle 
Mr.  Lawrence  might  put  upon  it,  the  matter 
smacked  too  much  of  treason  for  their  taste.  Yet 

139 


White  Aprons. 

with  Bacon's  army  in  the  midst  of  them  and  Berke 
ley's  army  far  away  across  the  bay  at  Accomac, 
and  with  the  Governor's  threat  to  make  the  rivers 
of  Virginia  run  with  their  blood  because  they  would 
not  rally  round  his  standard  last  July,  these  poor 
hesitating  Gloucester  men  found  themselves  be 
tween  the  devil  and  the  deep  sea,  and  wished 
petulantly  that  Bacon  and  Berkeley  would  fight 
it  out  betwixt  them  without  dragging  into  the 
controversy  peaceable  planters  who  asked  only  to 
remain  neutral. 

Yet  they  had  gathered  this  day,  six  hundred 
strong,  to  hear  what  Bacon  had  to  say  in  the 
matter.  Poor  fools,  who  thought  to  escape  from 
the  magnetism  of  that  form  and  face  and  voice  and 
all-compelling  personality  with  any  will  or  judg 
ment  of  their  own  ! 

The  throng  had  the  air  of  those  whistling  to 
keep  their  courage  up.  and  verily  none  could 
disguise  the  fact  that  this  day's  business  was  of 
serious  moment.  Each  man  discoursed  vehe 
mently  to  his  neighbor,  for  all  that  neighbor  was 
talking  as  loudly  as  himself. 

"  I  knew  some  ill  would  befall  since  ever  those 
ominous  presages  did  appear,  —  three  in  one 
year,"  quoth  one. 

"  Yea,"  added  another,  "  dost  thou  not  bear  in 
140 


Laodiceans. 

mind  that  great  comet,  streaming  like  a  horse's 
tail  to  westward  ?  " 

"  That  do  I,  and  the  flight  of  pigeons  stretching 
their  length  over  half  the  heavens,  till  they  seemed 
past  all  numbering,  and  how  when  they  lighted 
their  weight  broke  down  the  limbs  of  the  trees." 

"Ay,"  said  a  third,  "and  worst  of  all,  those 
swarms  of  flies  last  spring,  that  were  no  bigger 
than  the  top  of  my  hand's  littlest  ringer,  yet  did 
they  come  in  such  numbers  that  they  devoured 
every  young  sprout,  till  the  country  was  like  a 
man  shorn  of  his  eyelids  under  the  blazing  sun 
of  summer." 

"  Well,  well !  "  broke  in  Fairfax,  who  had  caught 
the  words  as  he  stood  behind  the  yeoman.  "  Of 
what  avail  is  all  this  talk  of  signs  and  portents? 
What  is  writ  is  writ,  —  and  for  the  matter  o'  that 
your  omens  may  be  twisted  either  way.  For  mine 
own  part,  I  do  read  in  the  swarms  of  flies  the 
petty  exactions  and  tyrannies  of  Governor  Berke 
ley;  in  the  wild  pigeons,  the  Indians  put  to  flight 
by  our  men ;  and  in  the  streaming  comet,  the 
glorious  career  of  General  Bacon." 

"  Faith,  ye  speak  truth :    't  is  strange  we  ne'er 

thought  on  that  interpretation."  said  all  three  in 

a  breath,  their  mouths  agape ;  yet  one  ventured : 

"  'T  is  clear  the  omens  do  be  in  our  favor  and  the 

141 


White  Aprons. 

chances  promise  fair,  unless  the  King  take  offence; 
but  there,  to  my  mind,  the  hitch  lies.  Should  His 
Majesty  see  fit  to  send  soldiers  over  from  home, 
what  then  ?  Methinks  we  should  all  walk  wet- 
shod  in  blood,  as  the  Governor  threatened  a  while 
ago." 

"  Pish !  Pish !  "  quoth  another,  with  ill  concealed 
contempt.  "As  to  that,  good  master,  we  are  in 
over  shoes  now,  and  might  as  well  be  in  over  boots. 
Besides,  we  must  needs  make  answer  for  our  con 
duct  to  Bacon  as  well  as  to  Berkeley." 

But  a  timid  man  with  the  white  feather  in  his 
hat,  which  did  but  fitly  shadow  forth  the  white 
feather  in  his  heart,  stammered  forth,  while  his 
knees  shook  under  him,  "  Yes  —  but  —  but  what 
about  the  English  soldiers  ?  " 

At  this  a  woman  (for  women  as  well  as  men 
were  mingling  in  the  throng  in  the  field  at  Glou 
cester  Court  House  that  day),  —  a  woman,  I  say, 
picked  up  a  stick  which  lay  in  the  trodden  grass, 
and,  breaking  it  across  her  knee,  she  waved  the 
pieces  above  her  head,  shouting  aloud  so  that  all 
could  hear  her :  "  I  for  one  fear  the  power  of 
England  no  more  than  this  broken  stick." 

"  Ah  !  "  cried  Fairfax,  approvingly.  "  'T  is 
bravely  spoke,  and  should  go  far  to  teach  their 
duty  to  those  who  stand  cowering  around  you 
142 


Laodiceans. 

calling  themselves  men,  yet  waiting  for  a  woman 
to  lead  them."  Under  his  breath  he  said:  "By 
Heavens!  'tis  the  wife  of  Drummond;  it  is  well 
none  have  recognized  her."  Then  aloud :  "  But  let 
us  not  waste  time  bandying  words  here,  for  the 
General  himself  is  speaking  from  yonder  hillock ; 
and  his  words  shall  soon  persuade  you  to  his 
following,  I  will  warrant  you." 

So  saying  Fairfax  moved  toward  the  little  knoll 
in  the  centre  of  the  camp.  His  heart  leaped  up  to 
see  his  Chief  standing  there  with  the  whole  multi 
tude  gazing  up  at  him  and  hanging  upon  his 
accents  as  he  spoke.  Too  little  has  been  made 
of  the  individuality  of  the  voice;  for  nothing 
more  betrays  the  character  behind  it,  and  nothing 
more  surely  affects  the  listener  before  it.  Some 
voices  are  like  a  file,  that  rasps  the  nerves  of  the 
hearer.  Some  are  like  a  brook,  whose  murmur 
ing  lulls  to  drowsy  acquiescence.  This  man's 
was  like  an  organ ;  and  as  one  stop  or  another  was 
touched,  it  could  utter  soft  persuasion,  or  kindle  to 
action,  or  strike  with  terror,  or  lead  on  to  victory, 
and  if  need  be  to  death. 

The  first  words  which  caught  the  ear  of  Fairfax 
as  he  joined  the  throng  at  the  foot  of  the  natural 
platform  whereon  Bacon  stood  were  words  of 
pleading  and  calm  argument. 

'43 


White  Aprons. 

"We  the  commons  of  Virginia  do  desire  a  prime 
union  among  ourselves  against  the  common  enemy. 
Let  not  the  faults  of  the  guilty  be  the  reproach  of 
the  innocent,  the  crimes  of  your  oppressors  divide 
and  separate  those  who  have  suffered  by  their 
oppression.  The  question  is  now  before  you. 
Men  of  Gloucester,  will  ye  take  the  oath  and  join 
our  ranks,  or  must  we  count  you  of  the  number 
of  the  foes  of  liberty?" 

Silence  —  dead,  leaden  silence  —  followed  this 
appeal ;  then  from  the  midst  of  the  crowd  who  had 
huddled  close  together  as  if  to  avoid  individual 
recognition,  a  sandy-haired  man  spoke  out  timidly : 
"  May  it  please  you,  Master  Bacon,  we  have  talked 
over  this  matter  in  conclave  before  our  coming 
hither,  and  it  is  the  sense  of  us  Gloucester  men  that 
we  are  resolved  to  lend  aid  neither  to  you  nor 
yet  to  Berkeley.  As  we  told  the  Governor  three 
months  since,  we  do  prefer  to  remain  neutral." 

"Neutral!"  echoed  Bacon,  with  a  taunting 
mockery.  "Oh,  yes,  ye  are  of  those  who  would 
fain  be  saved  with  the  righteous  and  yet  do  naught 
toward  obtaining  of  the  salvation.  Zounds!  I 
swear  ye  shall  not  remain  neutral.  He  that  is 
not  for  us  is  against  us." 

The  General's  fiery  ardor  began  to  burn   into 
the  coldness  of  the  crowd ;  but  still  they  strove  to 
144 


Laodiceans. 

temporize  and  delay,  if  they  could  not  evade,  the 
final  decision.  The  commoner  men  of  the  throng 
were  with  Bacon.  For  all  they  had  walked  many 
miles  to  the  meeting  and  were  spent  with  weari 
ness,  their  spirits  leaped  within  them  at  the  cry  of 
this  champion  of  popular  liberty.  Instinctively 
they  felt  that  his  cause  was  theirs,  and  as  instinc 
tively  Bacon,  looking  into  their  eyes,  felt  their 
response ;  but  the  men  on  horseback,  the  rich 
planters,  the  aristocracy  already  sprung  up  in  this 
new  democratic  country,  still  stood  cold  and  im 
passive  as  a  stone. 

At  length  one,  Colonel  Gouge,  an  officious  busy 
body  always  anxious  to  make  himself  noticed, 
called  aloud :  "  Perchance,  Master  Bacon,  the  oath 
may  yet  be  taken  if  you  grant  us  time.  Thus  far 
ye  have  chiefly  spoke  to  the  foot  and  not  to  the 
horse." 

"Nay,"  cried  Bacon,  hotly;  "  I  spake  to  the  men, 
and  I  leave  you  to  speak  to  the  horse,  as  one  beast 
can  best  understand  another." 

A  ripple  of  resentment  ran  through  the  crowd. 
"  Have  a  care,  Mr.  Bacon,"  cried  a  man  dressed 
in  the  garb  of  a  Church  of  England  clergyman; 
"  we  are  not  come  hither  to  hear  our  spokesman 
insulted." 

"  Faith,"  answered  Bacon,  now  quite  beside  him- 
10  145 


White  Aprons. 

self  with  passion,  "  if  ye  are  not  come  to  hear  it, 
ye  may  stay  to  hear  it.  As  for  you,  reverend  sir, 
I  would  have  you  know  it  is  your  place  to  preach 
in  church  but  not  in  camp.  In  the  pulpit  you  may 
say  what  you  please,  but  here  you  shall  say  what 
pleaseth  me,  —  unless  indeed  ye  can  fight  to  better 
purpose  than  ye  preach.  'T  is  not  for  a  parson  to 
teach  a  general  the  rules  of  war." 

"  If  you  be  in  sooth  a  general,"  called  out  a 
surly  cavalier, "  show  us  your  commission.  I  know 
you  but  as  a  rebel  whom  the  Governor  hath  out 
lawed,  and  cancelled  the  commission  which  you  did 
wring  from  him  by  force  and  duress  yonder  at 
James  City.  Show  your  commission  and  we  will 
follow  you!" 

"  Will  you  so  ?  "  cried  a  voice  from  the  thickest 
of  the  crowd.  "Then  stand  by  your  words,  for 
General  Bacon's  commission  is  here!" 

A  mighty  cheer  greeted  Fairfax's  words,  though 
as  yet  the  crowd  scarce  comprehended  their 
purport. 

When  Bacon's  eye  fell  upon  the  paper  as  Fair 
fax  waved  it  above  his  head,  he  stopped  short  in 
the  speech  he  was  about  to  utter,  staggered,  and, 
catching  at  his  heart,  said  to  Drummond,  who  stood 
next  him :  "  I  am  faint.  Lend  me  thine  arm  to 
my  tent." 

146 


Laodiceans. 

Lawrence,  who  stood  by,  took  in  the  situation  at 
a  glance,  and  while  Drummond  led  Bacon  away  he 
took  his  place,  and  cried  so  that  all  could  hear : 
"  See !  Your  failure  to  stand  by  him  like  men 
hath  cut  him  to  the  quick.  This  faintness  which 
hath  come  upon  him  is  but  the  result  of  all  he  hath 
endured  in  the  behalf  of  your  poor  languishing 
country,  which  lies  gasping  under  the  violent  pres 
sure  of  unreasonable  men.  An  ye  make  not  com 
mon  cause  with  him,  I  do  promise  you  ye  shall  all 
suffer  the  like  tyranny  which  hath  worn  him  out. 
Ye  shall  see  as  he  did,  your  servants  slain  and 
your  plantations  laid  waste,  the  corn  ye  have  sown 
reaped  by  the  hands  of  savages  red  with  the  blood 
of  the  planter.  All  this,  ay,  and  more,  would  come 
to  pass  should  Berkeley  chance  to  win  in  this 
strife  wherein  we  do  now  be  engaged.  But  win  he 
will  not,  win  he  cannot;  for  this  is  a  struggle  be 
twixt  a  youth  in  the  full  vigor  of  his  manhood  and 
a  graybeard  in  his  dotage,  betwixt  an  honest  man 
and  an  old  treacherous  villain.  Now  Bacon  hath 
his  commission,  naught  can  stay  his  triumph." 

Here  the  orator  paused ;  and  then  with  a  solem 
nity  which  struck  awe  to  the  hearts  of  those  who 
heard,  he  said  slowly :  "  Choose  ye  this  day  whom 
ye  will  serve." 

The  words  of  Lawrence  made  a  deep  impression. 

147 


White  Aprons. 

Man  turned  to  man  and  repeated  them  in  awe-struck 
whispers.  Under  cover  of  the  buzz  Lawrence 
turned  to  Fairfax,  exclaiming  below  his  breath : 
"For  God's  sake  go  to  the  General !  I  like  not  his 
look." 

Fairfax,  who  had  been  but  biding  his  time  lest 
he  rouse  suspicion  of  something  amiss  by  haste, 
waited  no  urging,  but  quickly  working  his  way 
to  the  outer  circle  of  the  crowd,  was  off  like  arrow 
from  the  bow.  At  the  tent  he  met  Drummond 
coming  out. 

"  How  is  he  ?  "  asked  Fairfax,  breathlessly. 

"  Better,"  answered  Drummond.  "  Belike  't  was 
but  the  weakness  of  a  moment;  yet  I  own  the 
General  hath  seemed  to  me  a  sick  man  since  we 
came  to  this  Gloucester  shore.  His  head  is  over- 
hot,  and  his  eye  brighter  than  nature  kindled  it, 
and  for  his  temper,  —  'tis  perpetually  at  fever 
heat,  and  leapeth  to  his  tongue  on  the  slightest 
provocation." 

"  Stand  not  there  prating  like  idiots,"  cried  a 
voice  from  within  the  tent.  "  Either  come  in  or 
move  on." 

Drummond  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  passed 

on,  glancing  expressively  at  Fairfax,  who  hesitated 

an  instant,  then  lifted  the  flap  and  entered.      He 

was  shocked  at  the  ravages  of  disease,  which  his 

148 


Laodiceans. 

brief  absence  enabled  him  to  perceive  the  more 
clearly. 

"  General,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  am  sore  bestead 
to  see  thee  thus." 

"  To  see  me  how  ?  "  asked  Bacon,  testily,  forget 
ting,  or  choosing  to  ignore,  his  confessions  at  Green 
Spring.  But  Fairfax  answered  steadily,  "  To  see 
thee  feverish  in  body  and  mind." 

"  What  mean  you  by  feverishness  of  mind  ?  " 

"  I  mean  the  temper  which  led  you  to  speak  so 
hotly  to  the  crowd  but  now." 

"  Major  Fairfax,  I  will  be  the  judge  of  mine  own 
words  and  mine  own  condition." 

Fairfax  was  cut  by  this  use  of  his  title,  which 
seemed  to  say  that  this  conversation  was  held  not 
as  friends,  but  as  officers,  and  that  advice  to  a 
superior  was  strangely  out  of  place.  He  bowed 
with  a  ceremony  curiously  ill  matching  with  his 
draggled  and  dishevelled  attire.  "  I  stand  re 
proved,"  he  said,  "  and  can  but  beg  General 
Bacon's  permission  to  retire." 

Bacon's  answer  was  made  by  rising  from  the 
stool  on  which  he  sat  and  flinging  his  arm  over  his 
companion's  shoulder. 

"  Fairfax,"  he  said  low  and  sadly,  "  't  is  God's 
truth  you  speak.  I  am  ill,  —  ill  in  body  and  soul. 
Grant  me  but  one  more  week  to  struggle  with 
149 


White  Aprons. 

Berkeley  and  I  will  have  my  foot  on  his  neck  —  and 
then  —  why,  then  you  and  the  rest  must  follow  up 
the  victory,  for  I  am  a  spent  ball." 

"Say  not  so  I  pray  thee,"  cried  Fairfax,  "for 
there  be  those  do  love  thee  more  than  life." 

"  Ay,  lad,  I  do  well  believe  it,  of  thee  at  least ; 
but  for  a  true  man  there  is  much  beside  his  own 
life  to  live  for.  Could  we  but  see  this  Virginia  of 
ours  with  limbs  unshackled,  standing  free  and 
powerful,  a  Virgin  Queen  of  the  West,  ruling  in  her 
own  right,  —  there  were  a  work  well  worth  the  cost 
of  a  thousand  lives  like  thine  and  mine,  —  ay, 
Bryan  ?  " 

Never  before  had  Fairfax  heard  his  first  name 
uttered  thus  familiarly  by  his  Chief.  It  touched 
him  inexpressibly;  for  it  was  as  if  they  stood  already 
in  the  white  light  of  eternity,  where  all  formalities 
and  all  petty  distinctions  of  age  and  rank  drop 
away  and  leave  us  all  man  to  man.  He  could  find 
no  words  to  answer,  but  only  grasped  the  hand 
which  lay  over  his  shoulder.  After  a  minute,  which 
seemed  to  have  transformed  him  from  a  youth  to  a 
man,  he  answered  with  a  deep  gravity :  "  For  my 
own  poor  life,  my  Chief,  I  dedicate  it  wholly  to  you, 
—  to  you  and  Virginia ;  but  realizing  as  I  do  how 
the  welfare  of  the  province  is  bound  up  with  yours, 
I  must  make  bold,  even  at  the  risk  of  incurring 


Laodiceans. 

anew  your  displeasure,  to  pray  you  have  a  care. 
To-day  you  are  easily  the  first  man  in  Virginia,  and 
can  mould  events  to  your  will.  Let  but  a  rumor 
go  abroad  that  your  health  is  unsound,  and  all  is 
lost.  Of  what  avail  your  commission  an  ye  can 
not  bear  it?" 

"  Ah !  the  commission,"  cried  Bacon,  with  a 
start.  "  My  sickness  had  nigh  drove  it  from  my 
head.  Tell  me  how  ye  did  secure  it.  You  be 
such  a  modest  fellow,  and  make  so  little  of  exploits 
which  others  would  proclaim  with  a  trumpet,  that 
ye  are  likely  to  be  balked  of  your  deserts ;  but  of  a 
surety  this  deed  has  earned  rich  reward." 

"  Dear  Chief,  if  in  very  truth  you  think  my  deed 
entitled  to  reward,  let  me  receive  it  in  the  accep 
tance  of  my  counsel.  Listen ;  I  would  have  thee 
ride  with  me  this  night  to  Major  Pate's  house, 
where  thou  canst  have  nursing  such  as  this  rude 
camp  can  never  offer.  I  will  attend  thee,  and  we 
will  banish  all  the  family  and  servants,  that  none 
may  prate  of  thy  condition." 

A  mighty  cheering  broke  in  on  the  last  words  of 
Fairfax,  and  at  the  same  moment  Drummond  burst 
in,  crying:  "They  have  signed,  General.  They 
have  taken  the  oath,  every  one  I " 

"  So  ?  "  exclaimed  Bacon.  "  Methinks  the  busi 
ness  hath  moved  too  fast.  Easy  take,  easy 


White  Aprons. 

break.  Still,  with  no  resistance  to  be  looked  for 
in  this  direction  I  am  as  good  as  master  of  Vir 
ginia,  if  only  —  nay,  no  more  weakness  — Fairfax 
dear  lad,  order  horses  when  thou  wilt,  so  it  be 
after  thou  art  rested  and  day  has  broken.  The 
morrow  morn,  Drummond,  I  go  for  a  brief  rest  to 
Pate's  Plantation.  Upon  you  and  Lawrence  will 
devolve  the  charge  of  the  army.  Let  no  jealousies 
nor  strife  for  precedence  between  you  stir  up  dis 
sensions  in  the  troops.  If  you  would  make  head 
against  Berkeley,  you  must  be  unanimous  amongst 
yourselves.  Fairfax,  give  me  my  commission. 
Now  leave  me  both,  and  I  will  set  mine  affairs  in 
order  and  be  ready  to  ride  ere  daybreak.  The 
less  said  of  mine  absence,  the  better.  Good  night, 
gentlemen." 

As  Bacon  stalked  out,  a  negro  stood  at  the  door 
of  the  tent,  bearing  a  covered  basket  in  one  hand, 
and  in  the  other  a  pair  of  squawking  hens  much 
discomfited  to  find  themselves  dangling  head  down 
ward  before  their  time. 

"  Any  poultry  to-day,  suh  ? "  asked  the  black 
man. 

Bacon  was  too  much  absorbed  in  his  own  thoughts 
to  heed  the  presence  of  the  man  ;  but  Drummond, 
who  with  Lawrence  followed  close  after  the  Gen 
eral,  answered  somewhat  gruffly  :  "  Off  with  you  ! 


Laodiceans. 

We  have  neither  time  nor  heart  now  to  be  planning 
for  table  dainties." 

"  Hold  on  there  ! "  cried  the  voice  of  Fairfax 
from  within  the  tent ;  "  I  have  had  little  to  eat  to 
day,  and  am  spent  with  fasting.  Come  in,  and  I 
will  strike  a  bargain  with  you.  If  ye  will  kill, 
dress,  and  cook  your  squawking  hens  within  the 
half  hour,  ye  shall  have  a  shilling  apiece  for 
them." 

The  man  grinned  with  a  delight  which  closed  his 
eyes  and  showed  his  glistening  white  teeth.  Wait 
ing  no  second  bidding,  he  set  down  his  basket  and 
sat  down  cross-legged  at  the  open  flap  of  the  tent. 
When  Lawrence  and  Drummond  had  passed  out 
of  sight,  however,  he  mysteriously  drew  the  basket 
within  the  tent  and  let  down  the  flap,  as  though  he 
feared  detection,  though  none  were  in  sight.  His 
precautions  were  not  useless,  however ;  for  not  long 
after  a  man  in  clothes  lately  cleansed  and  dried 
stole  near  to  the  tent  and  laid  his  ear  close  to  the 
canvas. 

"  Ah,"  said  Arthur  Thorn  to  his  base  heart,  "  in 
time  perhaps  for  one  more  state  secret  wherewith 
to  make  my  peace  with  Berkeley.  It  was  worth 
the  risk  I  took.  But  could  I  only  have  got  the 
commission  and  seen  Fairfax  at  the  bottom  of  the 
river  —  "  His  thoughts  were  interrupted  by  a  few 

153 


White  Aprons. 

words  which  he  caught  from  within  the  tent, — words 
of  such  portent  that  he  resolved  when  the  negro 
came  out,  to  sift  them,  cost  what  it  might.  Fairfax 
had  not  recognized  him  in  the  boat, —  of  this  he  was 
sure,  —  and  he  resolved  to  make  one  more  effort  to 
work  his  revenge,  and  to  strike  at  the  honor  where 
he  had  failed  to  reach  the  life.  He  went  in  and 
hailed  as  comrade  the  man  at  whose  heart  his 
pistol  had  been  pointed.  Truly  Penelope  Payne 
had  given  him  no  more  than  his  due  when  she 
called  Arthurn  Thorn  a  Judas. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE   VALLEY   OF   THE   SHADOW. 

"  Nothing  can  cover  his  high  fame  but  Heaven, 
No  pyramids  set  off  his  memories 
But  the  eternal  substance  of  his  greatness, 
To  which  I  leave  him." 

IT  was  night  at  Pate's  Plantation.  The  rain  beat 
against  the  window-pane. 

A  smouldering  log  laid  across  the  iron  fire-dogs 
dimly  lighted  up  the  interior  of  the  low-raftered 
room,  wherein,  gathered  about  a  table,  sat  three 
men.  One  who  had  seen  them  last  in  the  splendor 
of  that  September  morning  at  Green  Spring  would 
scarce  have  recognized  the  high-hearted,  trium 
phant  soldiers  who  then  gathered  around  General 
Bacon,  in  these  bowed,  sorrow-stricken  men. 

Gloom,  deep  as  the  night  without,  sat  upon  their 
brows,  and  their  voices  echoed  the  dirge  of  the 
wind  as  it  sighed  and  sobbed  through  the  pines  at 
the  door.  They  spoke  in  low  murmurs,  and  ever 
and  anon  cast  glances  at  a  shadowy  corner  where 
stood  a  rude  bed,  on  which,  sharply  outlined  be- 

'55 


White  Aprons. 

neath  the  canvas  sheet,  lay  the  form  of  a  man,  — 
still  with  that  awful,  rigid  stillness  which  death 
alone  lends.  It  was  the  corpse  of  Nathaniel 
Bacon.  Yes,  there  he  lay,  —  he  who  had  hurled 
defiance  at  outnumbering  foes,  he  who  had  led 
a  forlorn  hope  and  transformed  it  to  a  conquering 
army,  he  who  had  borne  an  unmoved  and  lofty 
courage  through  all  perils  and  difficulties,  now  lay 
there  like  the  dullest  yokel  who  had  fired  a  cannon 
at  his  bidding.  Death,  the  leveller  who  wipes  out 
all  distinctions  'twixt  bravery  and  cowardice,  intel 
lect  and  impotence,  power  and  weakness,  had 
passed  over  him  and  left  him  —  thus. 

"  Who  could  credit,"  said  Fairfax  at  length, 
speaking  more  to  himself  than  to  those  about  him, 
and  uttering  the  words  with  effort,  as  though  they 
encountered  some  obstacle  in  his  throat,  —  "  who 
could  credit  that  't  is  scarcely  a  month  since  he  put 
Berkeley's  whole  army  to  rout  and  sent  them 
flying  across  the  bay  to  Accomac !  " 

"  Yes,"  responded  Drummond  ;  "  but  four  weeks 
since  he  did  enter  Jamestown  with  banners  flying, 
with  captives  and  trophies  for  all  the  world  like 
a  triumphal  procession,  and  set  the  houses  ablaze 
in  a  glorious  bonfire  to  the  victory  of  liberty  — 
alas  and  alas!  Now  he  lies  yonder,  and  all  he 
fought  for  lost  in  the  loss  of  him." 

156 


The   Valley  of  the  Shadow. 

"  Nay,"  burst  out  Fairfax,  "  the  cause  of  liberty 
is  oft  more  forwarded  by  the  martyr  than  by  the 
victor,  and  none  who  struggle  valiantly  for  the 
right  shall  have  struggled  in  vain." 

The  young  man's  voice  rose  and  fell  with  that 
instinctive  unconscious  rhythm  which  in  moments 
of  deep  grief  or  passion  makes  all  men  poets. 

Silence  fell  after  his  words,  then  Lawrence  spoke. 
"  Fairfax,  you  alone  were  with  him  when  he  died, 
—  though  we  came  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  at 
your  summons,  yet,  alas,  too  late  !  How  came  the 
end?" 

"  Why,  thus  :  For  three  days  he  lay  there  on  the 
cot  where  you  see  him,  first  white  as  the  sheet 
above  him,  then  flushed,  and  tossing  restlessly  to 
and  fro ;  and  ever  and  anon  when  I  did  go  to  him 
to  cover  his  limbs  or  moisten  his  parched  mouth,  I 
caught  him  murmuring  of  early  life  in  the  home 
country,  of  his  courtship,  and  then  of  his  coming 
hither  to  Virginia,  and  once  he  raved  of  poison ; 
for,  to  say  truth,  he  did  have  it  heavily  on  his 
mind  that  he  had  met  with  foul  play." 

u  What !  "  cried  Lawrence,  starting  up  from  his 
chair  as  if  the  thought  stung  him  beyond  endur 
ance,  "  could  it  have  been  ?  " 

"  I  know  not  for  sure,"  answered  Fairfax.  "  '  T  is 
hard  to  think  any  man  with  English  blood  in  his 

'57 


White  Aprons. 

veins  could  thus  foully  do  to  death  the  foe  he 
could  not  conquer  by  fair  means ;  but  Berkeley's 
situation  was  waxing  desperate." 

"  Yet  poison !  "  broke  in  Lawrence,  "poison  — 
oh,  I  cannot  think  it !  Besides,  these  Virginia 
marshes  in  the  chill  mornings  and  damp  evenings 
of  autumn  do  breathe  out  a  miasma  more  deadly 
than  any  drug." 

"  Yea,"  said  Fairfax,  "  I  do  myself  be  persuaded 
that  'tis  this  hath  laid  him  low,  —  this  and  the 
chafing  of  his  too  eager  soul.  Knowing  that  he 
was  all  in  all  to  the  cause,  he  did  strain  his  weak 
ened  body  to  work  too  heavy  for  it.  Oh  would  to 
God  my  mean  life  could  have  been  accepted  as  a 
sacrifice  for  his !  " 

Of  a  sudden,  as  he  spoke,  he  seemed  to  see  the 
motto  writ  before  his  vision  in  the  air,  "  Pereat  qui 
me  laces  sit. "  To  his  over-wrought  mind  it  appeared 
that  the  curse  was  wreaking  itself;  that  passing 
himself,  as  a  tool  too  insignificant  for  vengeance,  it 
had  fallen  on  the  head  which  had  planned  the 
deed,  the  head  now  laid  low  in  unfeeling  death. 
The  grief  of  the  honest  young  heart  was  too  great 
to  be  borne.  Laying  his  head  upon  his  arms  on 
the  table,  he  sobbed  aloud. 

*'  Come,  Fairfax,"  said  Lawrence,  kindly  laying 
his  hand  upon  the  bowed  shoulder,  "  these  tears 

158 


The   Valley  of  the  Shadow. 

do  but  unfit  us  for  the  service  we  yet  may  render. 
God  knows  no  man  hath  greater  cause  for  sorrow 
than  T.  Grief  for  the  dead  is  but  rosemary  and 
rue  unless  there  be  mingled  therewith  the  bitter 
weed  of  remorse.  This  it  is  which  doth  rankle  in 
my  heart, —  the  thought  that  when  he  lived  I  knew 
him  so  little,  and  did  in  my  vanity  and  self-esteem 
hold  myself  the  mainstay  of  this  our  cause.  Now, 
alas,  I  am  learning  how  much  I  am  to  seek  in  that 
greatness  which  did  ever  mark  him." 

Ere  Lawrence  had  finished  speaking  the  sound 
of  hurried  footsteps  was  heard  without,  and  with 
no  knock  to  herald  him  a  breathless  youth  thrust 
the  door  open  and  hurled  himself  into  the  room, 
followed  by  a  gust  of  wind  and  rain.  His  leather 
leggings  were  scratched  and  torn  by  bush  and 
brier,  his  coat  hung  in  tatters,  he  had  lost  his  hat, 
and  his  hair  was  in  wild  disorder.  "  Fly  !  "  he 
panted.  "Fly  !  I  am  come  at  the  risk  of  my  life 
to  warn  you  —  all  is  lost  —  Berkeley  is  returned 
from  Accomac  stronger  than  ever.  The  Gloucester 
men  have  forgot  their  oaths  and  set  out  to  join 
him.  He  hath  caught  a  rumor  of  Bacon's  sick 
ness,  and  vows  he  will  have  him  alive  or  dead. 
He  hath  set  a  price  upon  his  head,  and  swears 
he  will  have  it  set  up  above  the  gate  at  Middle 
Plantation." 

159 


White  Aprons. 

"  Saith  he  so  indeed ! "  quoth  Fairfax,  rising 
with  set  lips  and  eyes  glowing  lantern-like  beneath 
his  brows.  "Saith  he  so?  Then  let  us  set  our 
selves  to  thwart  him  once  more,  —  yea,  though  our 
own  lives  do  pay  the  forfeit,  as  indeed  they  are  like 
enough  to  do  in  any  case."  The  young  man  spoke 
with  a  vigor  and  intensity  of  purpose  which  domi 
nated  his  companions.  The  mind  which  has  a 
ready-developed  scheme  will  always  rule  doubt  and 
indecision. 

"  Give  me  your  cloak,  Drummond,"  continued 
Fairfax,  "  and  you  yours,  Lawrence ;  but  first  give 
me  Bacon's  sword,  and  let  us  bind  it  upon  him,  — 
for  sure  none  other  will  ever  be  found  worthy  to  wear 
it  after  him,  —  and  here  —  "  Pausing  an  instant, 
he  went  to  a  high  desk  which  stood  in  the  corner  of 
the  room,  and,  pressing  a  spring,  drew  out  a  secret 
drawer,  from  which  he  took  the  white  paper  with 
the  red  seal,  —  the  commission  for  which  he  had 
struggled  so  hard  and  dared  so  much,  and  all  now 
as  it  seemed  for  naught.  "  Pereat  qui  me  lacessit" 
he  murmured.  "  May  it  hold  true  now  if  never  be 
fore.  A  curse  on  any  who  shall  disturb  this  in  its 
sacred  resting-place  !  "  So  speaking  he  closed  the 
desk,  and,  stepping  to  the  bed,  he  opened  Bacon's 
coat  and  laid  it  reverently  upon  his  heart. 

"  Now,  friends,  let  us  wrap  him  well,  for  the 
160 


The   Valley  of  the  Shadow. 

night  wind  is  sharp,  and  who  knoweth  whether  or 
no  the  dead  may  feel  it?  Thou,  Hanford,"  he 
added,  turning  toward  the  latest  comer,  who  had 
but  just  got  his  breath,  "  take  the  lantern  and  go 
before  to  the  boat  down  yonder,  which  you  will 
unmoor  and  have  ready  for  our  coming ;  for  I  do 
purpose  that  we  commit  this  sacred  body  to  the 
care  of  the  stream  he  loved,  trusting  that  the  river 
will  keep  our  secret  so  well  that  no  man  shall  know 
his  resting-place.  For  a  time  his  name  must  bleed ; 
but  sure  as  there  is  a  God  in  heaven,  justice  shall 
some  day  be  done  to  his  memory.  Farewell,  my 
Chief,  my  friend,  my  glory,  and  my  hope ;  farewell !  " 
Speaking  thus,  he  bent  over  and  kissed  the  pale  cold 
forehead  streaked  with  dark  hair.  Each  man  pres 
ent  followed  his  example.  Then  they  lifted  their 
solemn  burden  and  filed  out  of  the  little  room,  leav 
ing  the  door  wide  behind  them  and  the  dying  em 
bers  blackening  on  the  cold  hearth. 

The  tempest  shook  them  as  they  passed  down 
the  wet  and  slippery  path  which  led  to  the  shore, 
and  the  night  lowered  black  around  them ;  but 
by  the  fire-fly  glimmer  of  Hanford's  lantern  they 
guided  their  footsteps  to  the  beach.  The  wet  trees 
dropped  fresh  tears  upon  them  as  they  passed 
beneath  the  dripping  boughs.  Silently  they  laid 
their  burden  on  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  and  with  it 
"  161 


White  Aprons. 

two  large  stones  of  such  weight  that  Fairfax  sweated 
with  the  task  of  lifting  them.  Lawrence  then  took 
his  place  in  the  prow,  looking  forward  like  some 
stern,  strange  figure-head. 

Drummond  sat  in  the  stern  and  Fairfax  and 
Hanford  took  the  oars.  "  Lawrence,"  said  Fairfax, 
"it  shall  rest  with  you  to  decide  where  we  shall 
pause." 

"  So  be  it,"  answered  Lawrence  ;  and  then  there 
was  silence  save  for  the  dashing  of  the  wind-swept 
waves  against  the  little  craft. 

When  they  were  come  to  a  spot  in  the  very  cen 
tre  of  the  stream,  where  the  water  was  deepest  and 
blackest,  Lawrence  said  slowly :  "  We  have  come 
far  enough.  Here  be  his  resting-place,  and  may  he 
sleep  well!" 

Fairfax  drew  in  his  oar,  and  with  the  help  of 
Drummond  and  Hanford  wrapped  the  stones  in 
the  cloaks  and  bound  them  securely  to  the  body. 
Tenderly  as  ever  mother  raised  her  dead  babe  they 
lifted  the  corpse  over  the  side  of  the  boat,  held  it  a 
moment,  then  solemnly  and  slowly  let  it  fall. 

A  plash,  a  widening  circle  of  ripples,  then  all 
was  as  before.  The  little  boat  was  turned  about 
and  headed  for  the  shore.  When  it  touched,  the 
four  men  stepped  out  and  stood  silent,  looking 
into  each  other's  eyes  with  that  sense  of  kinship 
162 


The   Valley  of  the  Shadow. 

born  of  a  common  deep  experience.  Then  they 
struck  hands,  and  vowed  that,  come  what  might, 
no  man  should  learn  the  secret  of  that  sacred 
burial.  After  that  they  parted,  going  every  man 
his  own  way. 

The  great  rebellion  was  ended.  The  bond  which 
had  held  it  together  was  snapped,  the  mainspring 
broken.  Another  month  and  the  forces  once  so 
near  to  victory  were  scattered,  the  leaders  a  handful 
of  hunted  outlaws.  Lawrence  had  fled  for  safety  to 
the  morasses  of  the  great  woods  ;  Drummond  and 
Fairfax  lay  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  their  arch 
enemy  ;  but  Bacon  had  escaped,  —  death  had  hid 
den  him  safe  from  all  the  venom  of  those  who 
sought  to  drag  him  down. 

"  He  's  gone  from  hence  unto  a  higher  court 
To  plead  his  cause,  where  he  by  this  doth  know 
Whether  to  Caesar  he  was  friend  or  foe." 


163 


CHAPTER   X. 

VENGEANCE. 

"  Who  will  not  mercie  unto  others  show 
How  can  he  mercie  ever  hope  to  have? " 

BEFORE  the  Court  House  at  Middle  Planta 
tion,  on  the  green  which  now  might  more  pro 
perly  have  been  called  the  brown,  so  hard  and  sere 
was  it  beneath  the  frosts  of  the  bitter  December  of 
1676,  stood  a  group  of  men  and  women  awaiting 
the  roll  of  the  drum  which  should  shortly  sound 
forth  a  summons  to  all  whom  it  might  concern  to 
attend  the  sitting  of  the  Governor  for  the  trial  by 
martial  law  of  the  White  Aprons,  the  companions 
in  arms  of  that  rebel  and  factious  disturber  of  the 
peace,  the  late  Nathaniel  Bacon,  whose  rebellion 
had  fallen  to  pieces  like  a  pack  of  cards  at  his 
death. 

"  I  tell  you,  neighbors,  the  Governor  means  to  take 
order  with  these  White  Aprons  after  a  fashion  that 
shall  never  be  forgot  within  the  borders  of  the  Old 
164 


Vengeance. 

Dominion."  So  spoke  a  man  whose  hard,  stern 
face  would  have  been  at  home  among  the  grim- 
visaged  dwellers  by  Massachusetts  Bay.  "  Verily," 
he  continued,  "  the  scaffold  is  crying  out  for  some 
of  them." 

"Ay,"  answered  a  younger  man  who  stood  by, 
rubbing  his  hands  to  keep  them  warm,  "  belike 
they  have  deserved  all  that  can  befall  them ;  but 
the  punishing  of  rebels  is  like  the  rolling  of  a  wheel 
down  hill,  —  the  start  is  easy,  but  the  trouble  lies  in 
stopping.  One  of  these  men  is  as  guilty  as  another ; 
and  if  the  Governor  hangs  the  first,  he  cannot  in 
reason  stay  his  hand  till  half  the  colony  be  strung 
up  by  the  neck." 

"  Why  not  forgive  them  all  ?  " 

At  these  words,  uttered  in  a  high,  childish  treble, 
many  turned  their  eyes  toward  the  little  maiden 
who  stood  holding  tight  to  her  father's  hand, 
her  hood  outlining  the  full  moon  of  her  chubby 
face,  and  her  long  skirt  bobbing  against  the 
ground. 

"  Tush,  tush,  child  !  "  answered  her  father,  vexed 
to  have  the  attention  of  the  crowd  thus  drawn  upon 
him,  and  fearing  perhaps  lest  the  words  of  the 
child  be  held  but  the  mirror  of  the  parent's  thought. 
"  Leave  forgiveness  to  those  who  deal  with  childish 
pranks  like  thine.  Men  must  count  the  cost  before 

165 


White  Aprons. 

they  plot  treason  against  the  King  and  the  State. 
1  To  the  scaffold  with  one  and  all ! '  say  I." 

"  Nay ;  the  child  is  nearer  right  than  thou,  my 
good  master,  else  hath  our  religion  gone  sadly 
astray  in  its  teachings." 

The  new  voice  which  uttered  these  words  spoke 
with  evident  authority ;  and  as  it  was  recognized,  all 
the  indented  servants  and  freemen,  and  even  the 
landed  gentry,  uncovered  their  heads  in  token  of 
respect  to  Colonel  Payne.  Over  his  arm  he  held 
the  bridle  of  his  horse,  while  at  a  little  distance  a 
gray-haired  negro  was  helping  his  daughter  to 
alight.  As  soon  as  her  foot  touched  the  ground 
she  too  joined  the  throng  just  in  time  to  catch  her 
father's  words.  Straight  as  she  stood,  and  bravely 
as  she  faced  the  crowd,  the  pallor  of  her  cheek  and 
the  dark  lines  beneath  her  eyes  told  of  some  inner 
conflict. 

"  Ask  them,  father,"  said  she,  pressing  closer  to 
Colonel  Payne's  side,  "  whether  they  say  not  their 
prayers  o'  Sunday." 

"  Why,  surely,  Mistress  Payne,"  said  a  woman's 
voice  at  her  other  side.  "  Methinks  we  were 
but  half  Christians  did  we  not  say  them  each 
night." 

"Then,"  answered  Penelope  Payne,  scornfully, 
"  I  do  commend  you  to  pray  less  and  practise 
166 


Vengeance. 

more ;  for  an  God  forgave  your  trespasses  as  you 
forgive  those  that  trespass  against  you,  I  pity  your 
soul." 

The  men  about  tittered.  Colonel  Payne  turned 
to  his  daughter  with  unwonted  sternness  on  his 
brow  and  in  his  voice.  "  Stand  not  here,  girl, 
bandying  words  for  the  amusement  of  the  crowd," 
he  said.  "  Get  thee  in  to  the  Court  House  and  I 
will  shortly  follow." 

Even  as  he  spoke  the  rumble  of  the  drum 
sounded  forth  its  rude  summons,  which  brought 
all  the  stragglers  trooping  into  the  court-room, 
where  with  bare  heads  they  awaited  the  coming  of 
the  Governor  and  his  officers.  When  these  had 
come  in  and  taken  their  seats,  making  a  brave 
show  in  that  bare  room  with  their  rich  dress,  the 
common  folk  also  sat  down  on  the  benches  and 
awaited  eagerly,  as  those  at  a  play,  the  beginning  of 
the  life-and-death  drama  now  about  to  be  acted 
before  them. 

But  there  were  those  in  that  assembly  to  whom 
this  morning's  business  meant  an  hour  of  suspense, 
a  day  of  agony,  and  a  life-time  of  sadness,  —  those 
who  were  destined  to  behold  husband  and  father 
and  son  snatched  from  their  arms  and  hurried  away 
to  ignominious  death. 

When  all  were  settled  a  corporal  appeared,  lead- 


White  Aprons. 

ing  Arthur  Thorn.  His  face  wore  a  look  of 
humility  and  penitence,  full  of  disgusting  hypocrisy 
to  those  who  knew  him,  and  about  his  neck  was  a 
rope  which  some  of  those  present  devoutly  wished 
were  for  use  rather  than  ornament.  Making  his 
way  forward  to  the  bar  before  the  Governor's  chair, 
he  flung  himself  upon  his  knees,  and  recited  his 
confession  and  plea  for  pardon  glibly  enough,  but 
in  such  a  sing-song  voice  as  showed  clearly  that  he 
had  learned  it  off  by  heart,  parrot-like. 

"  I,  Arthur  Thorn,"  —  so  his  confession  ran,  — 
"that  all  bystanders  may  take  notice  of  this,  my 
sincere  repentance  of  my  rebellion,  do  here  most 
humbly,  upon  my  knees,  with  a  rope  about  my 
neck,  implore  pardon  of  God,  my  King,  the  Honor 
able  Governor,  Council,  and  magistrates  of  this  His 
Majesty's  country,  and  humbly  crave  the  benefit  of 
mercy  and  pardon." 

Here  he  rolled  his  eyes  heavenward,  and 
uttered  with  assumed  fervor  the  hollow  prayer: 
"  God  save  the  King,  and  prosper  the  Governor 
and  magistrates  with  all  happiness  and  good 
success ! " 

"  Hush  !  "  —  the  word  was  passed   around  the 
crowd  —  "the  Governor  is  rising  to  speak."    There 
was  leaning    this    way   and    that,  and    an    eager 
craning  of  necks,  as  His  Excellency  began :  — 
168 


Vengeance. 

"  Arthur  Thorn,  for  that  you  have  been  in  arms 
against  His  Majesty  and  against  me  his  vice-regent, 
you  do  richly  deserve  to  forfeit  your  life  after  the 
manner  symbolized  by  the  rope  about  your  neck ; 
but  whereas  you  did  come  out  from  among  the 
enemy  and  have  humbly  sued  for  pardon,  and 
whereas  you  have  furnished  us  with  valuable  evi 
dence  against  one  of  the  prisoners  soon  to  be 
brought  before  this  tribunal,  we  do  therefore  in  the 
King's  name  grant  you  pardon,  and  caution  you 
never  again  to  be  associated  with  so  heinous  an 
offence." 

Not  a  cheer  was  heard  as  the  prisoner  rose  from 
his  knees,  —  pardoned  but  despised.  A  vague  fear 
shook  the  heart  of  Penelope  as  he  passed  her. 
She  closed  her  eyes,  unwilling  to  gaze  upon  him. 
When  she  looked  up  again  he  was  gone,  and  in  his 
place  at  the  bar  of  judgment  stood  a  red-haired, 
raw-boned  man  of  little  outward  beauty,  but  with 
firmness,  fortitude,  and  indomitable  manhood  writ 
large  on  his  plain  countenance. 

"  Prisoner,  what  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  My  name,  may  it  please  Your  Excellency,  and 
you,  gentlemen  of  the  Council,  is  Drummond,  long 
known  in  Scotland,  and  later  in  this  colony,  as  the 
name  of  an  honest  man." 

"  Mr.  Drummond,"  answered  the  Governor  with 
169 


White  Aprons. 

a  terrible  politeness,  "you  are  very  welcome.  I 
am  more  glad  to  see  you  than  any  man  in  Virginia. 
You  shall  be  hanged  in  half  an  hour  !  " 

"  As  Your  Excellency  pleases  ! "  rejoined  the 
prisoner,  as  calmly  as  though  he  had  accepted 
an  invitation  to  dine  at  Green  Spring  that  same 
day. 

Yet  the  crowd  noted  that  he  turned  pale  and 
trembled  when  he  heard  a  groan  behind  him  and 
recognized  the  voice  of  his  wife.  One  of  the  com 
missioners  leaned  forward  and  whispered  in  the 
Governor's  ear. 

"  So,"  said  His  Excellency,  laying  back  his  lips 
till  the  teeth  seemed  to  stand  out  like  those  of  a 
beast  of  prey  ready  to  flesh  themselves  in  the  heart 
of  the  victim,  "  that  groan  I  understand,  comes  from 
the  same  Sarah  Drummond  who  not  four  months 
since  did  break  a  twig  across  her  knee  there  in  the 
field  at  Gloucester  Court  House  and  incite  the 
Gloucester  men  to  defy  me  by  assuring  them  that 
she  feared  the  power  of  England  no  more  than  that 
stick.  Now,  I  dare  be  sworn  she  sings  another 
tune." 

At  that  the  prisoner  at  the  bar  turned  his  back 

full  on  the  Governor.      "  Sarah,"    cried  he,    *'  be 

firm!     I  charge  you  on  these  rings  which  we  did 

exchange  at  our  marriage  that  you  forswear  not 

170 


Vengeance. 

yourself  to  renounce  the  cause  of  justice  and 
liberty,  fallen  though  it  be  !  " 

"  Corporal,  take  off  that  ring  with  which  he  thus 
defies  us,  and  let  the  prisoner  be  hanged  before 
noon  !  "  cried  Berkeley  in  a  fury. 

It  was  easier  said  than  done,  for  Drummond 
made  so  stout  a  resistance  that  four  men  could 
scarcely  drag  him  from  the  room  ;  nor  could  the 
ring  be  wrested  from  him  till  they  had  bound  him, 
arms  and  legs,  with  ropes. 

It  was  a  disgraceful  scene,  and  there  were  those 
in  the  crowd  began  to  murmur,  "  Shame  !  "  but 
it  was  under  their  breath,  for  none  dared  face  the 
rage  which  had  thus  usurped  the  robes  of  justice. 

"  Call  Cheeseman  ! "  ordered  the  autocrat,  and 
Major  Cheeseman  stood  forth. 

"What  motive  had  ye  to  enter  into  this  dam 
nable  treason  and  conspiracy  ?  "  asked  Berkeley. 
Cheeseman  opened  his  lips  to  speak;  but  ere  he 
could  utter  a  syllable,  his  young  wife,  all  pale  and 
trembling,  rushed  forward,  and  throwing  herself  at 
the  Governor's  feet,  burst  forth  into  an  imploring 
petition,  though  her  voice  was  choked  with  sobs. 
"  My  good  Lord,"  she  cried,  scarce  able  to  make 
herself  heard,  "  I  pray  you  give  ear  to  my  suppli 
cations.  If  any  must  be  punished,  sure  'tis  I 
should  bear  the  burden,  since  't  was  by  means  of 
171 


White  Aprons. 

my  urgency  and  at  my  provocation  that  my  hus 
band  did  join  his  lot  with  that  of  Bacon.  There 
fore,  an  you  would  have  your  memory  for  bare 
justice  go  down  to  posterity  without  stain  you  must 
needs  hang  me  and  set  my  husband  free." 

"  No,  never !  never  !  never !  "  cried  her  husband  ; 
but  still  she  knelt  there  at  the  feet  of  the  Gov 
ernor.  She  might  as  well  have  knelt  to  a  stone 
image,  —  nay,  far  better ;  for  an  image  of  stone 
could  but  have  been  deaf  to  her  prayer,  whereas 
this  lofty  gentleman  answered  her  supplication 
with  such  insult  as  would  pollute  too  far  the  pages 
of  my  story  to  set  down.  Thereafter  he  bade  her 
hold  her  tongue,  and  with  no  more  show  of  trial 
than  had  attended  Drummond's  sentence,  Cheese- 
man  too  was  dragged  away  to  the  guard-house. 

Berkeley  smiled  ;  but  it  was  a  smile  ill  to  look 
upon,  —  such  a  smile,  doubtless,  as  sits  on  the  face 
of  Satan  as  he  snatches  one  soul  after  another. 
Revenge  but  grows  as  it  is  fed,  and  never  yet  had 
any  man  enough  to  glut  his  appetite. 

As  the  words  of  insult  to  the  innocent  and  most 
unhappy  young  wife  of  Major  Cheeseman  fell  upon 
the  ears  of  the  audience,  there  ran  a  universal 
shudder  through  the  crowd,  as  though  they  feared 
the  wild  beast  whom  they  had  let  loose.  But  one 
man  there  was  who  feared  not  to  speak  his  mind, 
172 


Vengeance. 

let  the  issue  be  what  it  might.  As  Colonel  Payne 
saw  Mistress  Cheeseman  sink  to  the  earth,  stricken 
down  by  the  tyrant's  words  as  by  a  dagger,  his  hand 
grasped  the  sword  by  his  side  as  though  he  would 
draw  it  then  and  there  in  her  defence ;  and  as  he 
saw  her  husband  dragged  from  the  court-room,  he 
rose  in  his  place,  and,  speaking  calmly,  though  a 
spot  of  indignant  red  glowed  on  his  cheek,  he 
said :  — 

"  May  it  please  Your  Excellency,  and  you, 
gentlemen  of  the  Governor's  staff,  I  ask  ere 
another  rebel  be  tried,  as  it  were  by  court-martial, 
though  in  this  building  raised  to  the  Civil  Law, 
that  your  honorable  body  do  consider  whether  the 
time  is  not  come  when  it  were  safe  to  return  to 
these  unfortunate  and  fallen  men  the  immemorial 
right  of  every  free-born  Englishman,  —  the  right  to 
a  fair  trial  according  to  the  law  of  the  land." 

Here  the  speaker  was  interrupted,  both  by  cheers 
and  hisses.  None  else  but  him  had  ever  been 
allowed  to  proceed  so  far ;  but  he  went  on  still  in 
that  even  tone  of  voice,  while  all  around  was  so 
quiet  that  one  could  hear  the  rats  scurrying  about 
among  the  rafters  while  he  paused. 

"  Have  ye  forgot,"  he  continued,  now  half  turn 
ing  to  those  on  the  benches  by  his  side,  —  "  have  ye 
forgot  the  provisions  of  your  rich  inheritance,  the 

173 


White  Aprons. 

great  charter,  which  sure  hath  suffered  no  sea 
change  in  its  crossing  of  the  ocean  which  lies 
betwixt  us  and  home  ?  '  No  freeman/  says  that 
instrument, '  shall  be  forejudged  of  life  or  limb,  dis- 
herited,  put  to  torture  or  death,  neither  shall  he 
be  disseized,  out-lawed,  exiled,  or  distroyed  of  his 
liberties,  freeholds,  and  free  customs,  but  by  the 
lawful  judgment  of  his  peers.  So  that  the  judg 
ment  is  by  this  fundamental  law  referred  to  the 
breasts  and  consciences  of  a  jury.' " 

At  the  word  "  jury,"  a  mighty  shout  arose,  so 
loud  that  it  echoed  in  the  rafters  and  lost  itself  in 
the  open  chambers  of  the  eaves. 

"  A  jury !  a  jury  !  "  answered  fifty  voices  at  once. 

"  No  more  martial  law  !  " 

"  Give  the  rebels  their  rights  !  " 

As  Berkeley  listened  to  these  tumultuous  cries, 
his  countenance  grew  ever  blacker  and  sterner. 
Twice  he  turned  to  the  sergeant  to  bid  him  enforce 
order ;  but  the  popular  voice  was  too  strong  for 
him,  and  the  popular  will  had  made  itself  felt 
with  a  force  not  to  be  gainsaid. 

Robert  Beverley  and  Philip  Ludwell,  who  sat 
side  by  side  at  the  Governor's  right  hand,  laid 
their  heads  together  in  earnest  counsel,  then  draw 
ing  nearer  they  whispered  thus  in  the  ear  of  His 
Excellency : 

174 


Vengeance. 

"  'T  were  best  yield  the  point  since  the  people 
have  it  so  much  at  heart." 

"  Not  I,"  rejoined  His  Excellency,  fiercely. 
"Think  ye  I  have  fought  with  wolves  to  fear 
these  whelps?" 

"  'T  is  but  a  semblance  of  yielding,  whereby 
many  a  ruler  hath  conquered  an  unruly  mob  ere 
now,"  quoth  Beverley. 

"  Besides,"  added  Ludwell,  "  the  Council  be  all 
of  your  way  of  thinking ;  so  if  thou  dost  declare  a 
'  life  and  death '  jury  to  be  drawn  from  the  body 
of  loyal  men  it  shall  be  as  though  thou  thyself 
spake  out  of  twelve  mouths." 

"There  may  be  something  in't,"  admitted  the 
Governor,  reluctantly,  but  relaxing  a  trifle,  and  for 
the  first  time,  the  stern  and  fixed  obstinacy  of  his 
determination. 

"Something  in  it;  there  is  everything  in  it," 
answered  Ludwell,  who  had  ever  a  great  desire  to 
stand  well  with  the  people,  to  conciliate  while  he 
ruled,  and  to  hide  the  iron  hand  in  the  velvet 
glove.  "  But  if  thou  wilt  gain  aught  by  the  con 
cession,  grant  it  quickly,  lest  thou  lose  all  by  seem 
ing  to  yield  on  sheer  compulsion  what  now  thou 
mayst  grant  as  't  were  of  thy  free  will  and  exceed 
ing  goodness." 

For  an  instant  Berkeley  listened,  loath  to  risk  his 

'75 


White  Aprons. 

autocracy,  and  yet  more  loath  to  lose  his  vengeance. 
Breathless  the  people  awaited  his  decision,  watch 
ing  his  face  as  though  they  read  there  the  vacil 
lations  of  his  purpose. 

At  length  his  decision  was  taken,  and  rising  to 
his  feet  he  said :  — 

"  People  of  Virginia,  hearken  now  unto  me. 
Though  't  is  certain  that  those  subjects  of  His 
Majesty  late  in  rebellion  against  him  and  me  and 
all  others  in  rightful  authority  are  entitled  to  no 
show  of  mercy,  and  though  to  spare  such  were  to 
encourage  treason  everywhere  to  show  its  ugly 
head  without  fear,  lest  it  should  be  cut  off,  and 
though  it  was  but  for  the  good  of  the  colony  that 
martial  law  has  so  far  been  preserved,  and  though 
all  know  that  I  have  been  but  the  sword  in  the 
hands  of  the  Council  in  the  justice  I  have  meted 
out,  —  yet  for  as  much  as  ye  do  now  cry  out  for 
civil  trials  for  these  wretches,  confederates,  and 
traitors  to  the  people,  I  do  yield  my  judgment  in 
the  matter,  and  declare  for  your  satisfaction  that 
hereafter  all  trials  shall  be  by  a  life  and  death 
jury,  drawn  from  among  these  loyal  men  and  true 
who  sit  around  me." 

Scarcely  had  the  Governor  finished  when  such 
a  wild  scene  shook  the  house  as  Middle  Planta 
tion  had  ne'er  before  witnessed  at  any  assembly 


Vengeance. 

whatsoever  of  its  people.  There  was  throwing  up 
of  hats  and  hurrahs  for  Sir  William  Berkeley,  the 
protector  of  Virginia  liberties,  and  finally  a  rush 
ing  forth  of  the  crowd  as  though  their  rejoicing 
was  swollen  to  a  greatness  not  to  be  contained 
within  any  four  walls. 
But  the  end  was  not  yet 


12 


177 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  TRIAL  OF  BRYAN  FAIRFAX. 

"  If  I  have  freedom  in  my  love 

And  in  my  soul  am  free, 
Angels  alone,  that  soar  above, 
Enjoy  such  liberty." 

IT  was  a  morning  in  the  beginning  of  January, 
1676-7.  His  Excellency,  the  Governor  of  Vir 
ginia,  with  three  associate  judges  drawn  from  the 
sixteen  members  of  the  Colonial  Council,  sat  that 
day  in  a  court  of  life  and  death  at  Middle  Plan 
tation,  with  a  panel  of  jurors  summoned  from  his 
loyal  adherents. 

If  the  haughty  spirit  of  the  vice-regent  chafed  at 
the  restraint  of  their  presence,  his  pride  bowed  not 
to  even  a  semblance  of  humility.  He  bore  himself 
with  every  whit  as  swelling  a  port  as  when  in  the 
previous  month  he  administered  drum-head  justice 
(or  injustice)  to  the  unlucky  wights  dragged  pro 
testing  before  his  court-martial.  His  temper  had 
not  grown  more  judicial  in  the  interval  of  weeks. 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

Indeed  it  seemed  as  if  time  but  deepened  his 
sense  of  injury  and  made  his  hatred  more  intense. 
In  short,  Sir  William  Berkeley  was  Sir  William 
Berkeley  still.  His  mouth  was  hard  and  cruel; 
his  eye  was  the  eye  of  a  tyrant,  —  shifty,  suspicious, 
and  overbearing ;  his  nose  was  the  nose  of  a  bigot, 
— with  pinched  nostrils,  which  seemed  to  dilate  but 
half  way,  and  grudgingly,  to  the  fresh  air  of  heaven. 
Reader,  when  you  meet  with  such  a  countenance, 
waste  no  time  in  argument  or  appeals.  It  were 
as  idle  to  strive  to  reach  the  sympathy  of  the  wild 
beast  by  tears,  or  to  melt  the  heart  of  the  rock 
with  eloquence. 

One  who  knew  him  well  and  saw  him  daily  at 
this  time  wrote  home :  "  Age  and  misfortune  have 
withered  his  desires  but  not  his  hopes,"  whereby  I 
take  it  he  meant  that  all  the  hopes  of  this  bitter 
old  man  were  now  centred  in  the  destruction  of 
the  desires  of  others. 

The  same  good  folks  who  had  watched  the 
proceedings  of  the  court-martial  thronged  the 
court  again  this  morning,  satisfaction  swelling  at 
their  hearts  and  written  on  their  faces  as  they 
turned  them  toward  the  twelve  men  who  were 
seated  in  the  jury-box,  —  a  rough  pen  set  off  at  one 
side  of  the  court. 

It  troubled  them  very  little  to  note  that  all  the 
179 


White  Aprons. 

faces  in  that  jury  belonged  to  stout  King's  men, 
strong  in  the  traditions  of  the  divine  rights  of 
sovereigns  and  their  vice-regents,  —  men  who  were 
as  like  as  Berkeley  himself  to  mete  out  the  brand 
ing  iron  and  the  gibbet  to  the  men  brought  before 
them  for  the  final  sentence  of  "  guilty  "  or  "  not 
guilty."  But  these  colonists  who  crowd  the  court 
to-day  are  not  of  a  squeamish  constitution,  and  are 
in  sooth  by  no  means  loath  to  look  upon  a  fellow 
creature  swinging  high  in  air  with  rigid  limbs  and 
distorted,  livid  features,  nor  yet  to  behold  bleeding 
quarters  nailed  to  the  stout  iron-bound  gates  of 
the  plantation ;  but  they  are  Englishmen,  —  ay, 
English  to  the  core,  —  and  they  demand  that  the 
victim  be  tried  and  convicted  by  due  process  of 
English  law,  not  hurried  away  like  cattle  to  the 
shambles  at  the  will  of  a  tyrant. 

The  English  law  of  that  time  we  must,  however, 
bear  in  mind  was  as  far  removed  from  the  law  of 
our  day  as  the  taste  of  that  age  from  ours.  The 
colonies  did  but  reflect  the  judicial  customs  of  the 
mother  country  and  her  courts,  wherein  every  judge, 
from  Scroggs  and  Jeffreys  down,  badgered  pris 
oners  and  browbeat  witnesses  and  cowed  juries 
into  servile  submission,  while  the  suspected  man 
was  treated  as  a  criminal,  and  forced  to  prove  his 
innocence,  if  he  could,  with  all  odds  against  him. 
1 80 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

The  accused  was  denied  the  privilege  of  counsel 
except  to  advise  him  on  questions  of  law,  and  could 
not  be  sworn  as  a  witness  in  his  own  defence,  though 
allowed  to  make  statements,  not  under  oath,  to  the 
jury. 

It  was  a  hard  and  unfeeling  crowd  which  gath 
ered  on  the  benches  that  third  day  of  January,  1677, 
to  hear  Bryan  Fairfax  tried  for  rebellion  and 
treason,  and  condemned,  as  none  present  doubted 
he  would  be,  to  die  on  the  gallows.  One  pale  and 
delicate  face  alone  quivered  with  intensity  of  feel 
ing;  but  none  saw  it,  for  it  was  sheltered  behind 
the  veil  which  completely  shrouded  the  features. 
But  the  very  veil  shook,  as  the  clerk,  all  prelimina 
ries  ended,  called  the  case  of  "  The  King  against 
Bryan  Fairfax." 

As  the  summons  ended,  the  prisoner  walked 
down  the  room  and  stood  up  before  the  bar,  his 
guard  on  either  side  bearing  the  axe,  after  the 
English  fashion,  with  its  blade  turned  away  as  if 
(oh,  terrible  irony  !  )  in  token  of  the  unwillingness 
of  the  court  to  shed  innocent  blood. 

Henry  Hartwell,  the  clerk  of  the  court,  bade  the 
sergeant-at-arms  make  proclamation. 

"Oyez!  Oyez!  Oycz!  "  cried  the  sergeant,  so 
rapidly  that  the  crowd  could  scarcely  hear  the 
words  as  he  jerked  them  out.  "  Sir  William 
181 


White  Aprons. 

Berkeley,  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  Chief  Justice 
of  this  court,  chargeth  and  commandeth  all  manner 
of  persons  here  assembled  to  keep  silence  and  to  sit 
with  uncovered  heads  upon  pain  of  imprisonment." 

When  those  who  sat  below  had  uncovered  their 
heads  in  due  obedience,  the  sergeant  turned  and 
addressed  the  prisoner  at  the  bar: 

"  Bryan  Fairfax,  hold  up  thy  hand." 

At  these  words  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  pris 
oner.  There  he  stood  in  the  felon's  dock,  his  face 
pallid,  his  eyes  sunken ;  yet  to  one  at  least  of  those 
gathered  in  the  court-room  he  looked  the  noblest 
and  the  goodliest  man  beneath  the  raftered  roof 
that  day. 

"Bryan  Fairfax,"  quoth  the  clerk,  standing  up 
as  the  sergeant-at-arms  sat  down,  "  thou  dost 
stand  indicted  as  a  false  traitor  to  the  illustrious, 
serene,  and  most  excellent  prince,  Charles  Second, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  of  England,  Scotland,  France, 
Ireland,  and  Virginia,  King  and  defender  of  the 
faith.  The  indictment  whereon  thou  art  now  to  be 
tried  hath  four  several  counts.  First,  that  thou 
didst  in  July  last  incite  the  crowd  gathered  in 
the  old  field  on  the  shores  of  the  York  River 
to  open  rebellion  and  to  espousing  the  cause  of  one 
Nathaniel  Bacon,  he  being  in  arms,  and  wickedly 
waging  war  against  his  lawful  sovereign,  the  King." 
182 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

"  So  ye  found  it  out,  did  ye  ? "  said  the  prisoner 
under  his  breath. 

"  Second,  that  thou  didst  thyself  rise  in  arms 
against  the  King,  and  therefore  art  guilty  of  rebel 
lion  and  treason." 

"Third,  that  thou  didst  aid  and  abet  the  said 
Nathaniel  Bacon  in  his  treason  and  rebellion 
against  the  King  in  that  thou  didst  steal  and 
feloniously  convey  state  papers  to  him  from  the 
house  of  Colonel  Boynton ;  and,  fourth  and  lastly, 
thou  standest  charged  with  the  more  particular 
offence  of  having  attempted  the  life  of  His 
Majesty's  vicegerent,  Sir  William  Berkeley,  the 
Governor  of  this  said  province  of  Virginia." 

At  these  last  words  a  tremor  of  excitement  ran 
through  the  crowd. 

"  How  says  he  ?  " 

"  Attempting  the  life  of  the  Governor ! " 

"  Why,  that  were  naked  murder." 

"  Bah !  they  will  lose  all  by  striving  for  too  much ; 
none  will  believe  Fairfax  an  assassin." 

"  Silence  in  the  court-room  on  pain  of  imprison 
ment !"  cried  the  clerk;  and  as  the  hush  fell  he 
continued,  turning  once  more  to  the  prisoner  at  the 
bar :  "  How  sayst  thou,  Bryan  Fairfax ;  art  thou 
guilty  or  not  guilty  ?  " 

"  Not  guilty." 

183 


White  Aprons. 

"  Wilt  thou  submit  to  the  judgment  of  this  court, 
or  wilt  thou  stand  thy  trial  ?  " 

"  I  will  stand  my  trial." 

"  How  wilt  thou  be  tried  ?  " 

"  By  God  and  my  country." 

"  God  send  thee  a  good  deliverance ! " 

"  Amen !  "  called  a  voice  from  the  crowd.  All 
turned  to  discover  whence  it  came,  but  the  confu 
sion  covered  the  speaker,  and  the  trial  went 
forward. 

"  Bryan  Fairfax,"  the  clerk  continued,  "  listen  to 
the  names  of  those  men  whom  thou  shalt  hear 
called  to  pass  upon  trial  for  thy  life  or  death.  If 
thou  wilt  challenge  any,  thou  must  challenge  them 
when  they  come  to  the  book  to  be  sworn,  before 
they  be  sworn.  They  are,  as  thou  seest,  all  free 
holders  and  housekeepers,  as  the  law  doth  com 
mand.  Here,"  he  added,  holding  up  the  scroll  so 
that  Fairfax  could  see,  "  thou  mayst  read  the  list 
for  thyself." 

"I  protest,"  said  Fairfax,  turning  to  Berkeley 
when  he  had  by  bending  forward  contrived  to 
decipher  the  list  of  jurymen,  "  I  do  perceive  in 
these  men  a  forejudged  sentence  against  me,  for 
all  of  them  be  of  the  opposition." 

"  Opposed  to  traitors,  ay,"  answered  the  Gov 
ernor,  sternly. 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

"  Surely,  Your  Excellency  will  not  have  me  thus 
assailed  from  the  jury-box  itself  before  my  case  is 
heard?" 

"Faith,"  answered  Berkeley,  sneeringly,  "me- 
thinks  we  have  a  full-fledged  lawyer  among  us. 
Prithee,  young  man,  where  did  ye  study  law  to 
have  your  mouth  so  crammed  with  argument?" 

"  I  did  study  law  at  the  Temple  Inns  for  two 
years  ere  ever  I  came  to  this  poor  country,"  Fair 
fax  made  calm  response;  "but  sure  it  needs  no 
schooling  in  subtleties  of  law  to  plead  against  a 
trial  by  one's  enemies  as  opposed  to  fairness  and 
common  justice." 

"  These  gentlemen  are  thine  enemies  but  in  that 
they  are  king's  men,  and  since  thy  fellow  rebels  be 
still  under  the  ban,  thou  canst  scarce  look  to  have 
a  jury  of  thy  peers." 

The  very  word  rebels  seemed  to  excite  Berkeley, 
for  his  face  reddened,  and  his  features  worked  as 
he  proceeded. 

"  'T  is  idle  to  say  more,"  said  Fairfax,  with  a  cer 
tain  scorn  in  his  tone,  which  cut,  though  it  came 
from  a  man  in  bonds;  "  I  ask  that  the  clerk  record 
my  protest." 

Scarcely  waiting  for  his  words  to  be  finished, 
the  Governor  turned  to  the  clerk  and  bade  him 
swear  the  jury.  Hartwell  rose  and  summoned  the 

185 


White    Aprons. 

jury  to  be  sworn,  saying  to  each  and  every  man  as 
he  came  forward  to  the  open  Bible : 

"  Lay  your  hand  upon  the  book  and  look  upon 
the  prisoner.  You  shall  well  and  truly  try,  and 
true  deliverance  make  between  our  Sovereign  Lord 
the  King  and  the  prisoner  at  the  bar,  whom  you 
shall  have  in  charge  according  to  your  evidence, 
so  help  you  God." 

When  each  man  had  thus  sworn,  the  crier  took  his 
place  and  proclaimed:  "Twelve  good  men  and 
true,  stand  together  and  hear  your  evidence !  " 

Penelope  Payne  looked  on  these  men,  and  for 
her  life,  knowing  what  she  knew  of  them,  could 
think  of  nothing  but  the  jury  tried  to  call  Faithful, 
in  a  story  she  had  lately  read  called  the  "  Pilgrim's 
Progress,"  by  one  Bunyan  (himself  a  prisoner), 
and  writ,  so  they  said,  in  jail. 

When  these  gentlemen  were  sat  down,  the  crier 
once  more  made  proclamation :  "  Oyez !  if  any 
one  can  inform  the  King's  justices  in  regard  to  the 
crimes  charged  against  the  prisoner,  let  him  come 
forth  and  he  shall  be  heard ;  for  now  the  prisoner 
stands  at  the  bar  upon  his  deliverance.  The 
attorney  for  the  Crown  will  now  set  forth  the 
indictment." 

Jauntily,  as  though  he  had  set  himself  to  ease 
the  man  before  him  of  a  purse  or  a  game-bag  in- 
186 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

stead  of  his  life,  the  public  prosecutor  rose  and 
began  his  speech ;  but  as  he  went  on  he  succeeded 
in  lashing  himself  into  a  fury  of  eloquence  which 
could  deceive  none,  for  all  heard  the  state  coin 
jingling  behind  the  thunder  of  his  voice  :  — 

"  Gentlemen  of  the  jury,"  quoth  he,  in  tones  of 
professional  solemnity,  "  you  have  heard  the  in 
dictment  read.  You  have  heard  the  substance 
thereof  opened.  It  is  short  in  words,  but  high  in 
consequence  —  treason  /  'T  is  a  mighty  crime,  and 
one  which  no  man  can  commit  and  live  when 
detected  and  apprehended." 

"  Oh,"  cried  Penelope  Payne  softly  to  her  own 
heart,  nearly  broken  with  anguish,  "  that  any  man 
should  seek  the  life  of  another  in  cold  blood,  —  't  is 
past  believing." 

The  prosecutor  continued :  "  Lese-Majesty  would 
set  at  naught  all  traditions,  all  sanctions,  all  sanc 
tities,  and  tread  under  foot  all  that  makes  life  dear 
and  honorable.  All  this  the  prisoner  at  the  bar 
hath  done,  as  we  will  show  you  by  many  witnesses, 
who  will  proclaim  him  out  of  his  own  mouth  a 
traitor  and  a  rebel ;  and  as  though  this  general 
crime  wherein  he  is  knit  and  bound  together  with 
those  who  have  already  paid  for  their  fault  with 
their  lives  and  whose  blood  cries  aloud  to  him  to 
join  them  on  the  scaffold,  were  not  enough,  this 
187 


White  Aprons. 

person  hath  descended  to  the  deeper  and  more 
particular  iniquity  of  the  assassin." 

« 'T  is  false  !  " 

The  deep  voice  of  Fairfax  rang  out  like  hammer 
on  anvil,  crashing  down  upon  the  smooth  glibness 
of  the  public  prosecutor. 

"  Ay,  is  it  so  ?  "  the  prosecutor  made  response 
in  a  tone  of  insolent  irony.  "  We  have  your  word 
for  it,  —  the  word  of  a  rebel  and  a  traitor !  " 

The  hand  of  Fairfax  fumbled  as  though  feeling 
for  his  sword;  then  realizing  his  helplessness  he 
cast  but  one  glance  of  indignation  at  his  tormentor, 
and  then  addressing  the  Bench  he  continued  in 
calmness : 

"The  accusation  of  attempting  the  life  of  the 
Governor  I  have  repelled  with  the  scorn  befitting 
an  officer  and  a  gentleman.  Poison  is  the  weapon 
of  a  coward  and  a  miscreant.  No  follower  of 
Bacon  hath  ever  employed  it  against  a  foe." 

At  this  there  went  a  murmur  about  the  court ; 
for  'twas  openly  circulated  that  General  Bacon 
had  been  foully  taken  off  after  that  fashion.  The 
justices  writhed  on  the  bench,  and  Berkeley  grew 
red  as  fire,  and  muttered  under  his  breath  :  "  Faith, 
the  rope  shall  choke  that  insolent  tongue  of  his !  " 

Penelope  Payne,  watching  the  jury,  saw  all  brows 
darken,  and  her  heart  sank  within  her. 
188 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

"  We  care  not  for  your  asserting  unless  ye  have 
proof,"  cried  the  Governor.  "  We  will  hear  your 
witnesses,  but  not  you  till  ye  have  a  chance  to  cry 
for  pardon." 

"  So,"  says  Fairfax,  coolly,  "  you  have  already 
decided  on  my  conviction.  Your  Honors,  I  do 
protest  against  being  tried  thus  before  the  man  I 
am  accused  of  striving  to  murder.  Is  it  not  writ 
ten  in  the  statutes  of  England  that  no  man  shall 
sit  in  judgment  on  a  case  wherein  himself  is  inter 
ested?  How  much  more  when  that  interest  ex- 
tendeth  to  his  life  I  'T  is  not  possible  that  I  be 
fairly  heard  on  the  final  count  of  my  indictment 
while  Sir  William  Berkeley  sitteth  in  that  chair." 

At  this  there  went  a  mighty  buzzing  about  the 
room.  The  jurors  leaned  together,  and  the  justices 
announced  that  they  would  retire  for  the  considera 
tion  of  that  matter. 

Within  the  court-room  opinion  wavered  now 
this  way,  now  that :  "His  point  is  ill  taken." 

"  Nay,  he  hath  right  on  his  side." 

"The  Governor  will  never  yield,  —  yet  let  him 
not  try  the  temper  of  the  people  too  far." 

"  He  is  in  a  fury." 

"  Well,  he  'd  best  beware  lest  his  fire  burn  his 
own  hand  in  the  end." 

"  Hush,  they  are  coming  back  !  " 
189 


White  Aprons. 

Such  silence  fell  that  all  could  hear  the  foot 
steps  of  the  judges  in  the  passage-way,  and  all 
marked  their  faces  as  they  entered. 

"  We  have  considered  the  question  raised  by  the 
prisoner,"  quoth  Ludwell,  "  and  we  are  of  one  mind 
in  the  matter.  Feeling  that  the  life  of  the  Governor 
is  one  with  the  life  of  the  State,  and  since  he  hath 
been  appointed  of  the  King  to  sit  in  all  trials  for 
rebellion  and  treason,  he  is  of  law  qualified  to  sit 
in  this.  The  prosecutor  may  go  on." 

Fairfax  again  bade  the  clerk  record  his  protest, 
and  then  continued:  — 

"  For  the  first  count  I  do  acknowledge  that  I 
bade  the  Gloucester  men  stand  firm  for  Bacon, 
but  I  did  not  incite  them  to  bear  arms  against  the 
King,  but  for  him."  The  clerk  busily  took  down 
his  words,  whilst  the  few  friends  of  the  prisoner 
in  the  crowd  shook  their  heads,  grieved  to  see  him 
thus  putting  the  noose  around  his  own  neck. 

"  Then,"  quoth  the  prosecutor,  "  we  will  not  waste 
the  time  of  the  court  in  proving  what  is  confessed, 
for  Nathaniel  Bacon  and  all  those  aiding  and  abet 
ting  him  were  long  since  duly  proclaimed  and  ad 
judged  rebels  against  their  King,  and  the  accused 
admits  inciting  others  to  the  same  treason.  We 
will  pass  to  the  second  count,  wherein  thou  standest 
charged  with  having  been  in  arms  against  the  king." 
190 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

The  prosecutor  smiled  a  bland,  oily  smile,  as  one 
who  sees  his  game  dropping  into  his  hands  with 
out  the  trouble  of  firing  a  shot.  "  Bryan  Fairfax, 
we  are  prepared  to  prove  by  many  witnesses  that 
thou  wert  seen  foremost  in  the  van  of  the  rebel 
army  at  the  Green  Spring  trench  and  among  the 
burning  houses  of  Jamestown.  Dost  thou  acknowl 
edge  this  also  ? " 

"  I  acknowledge  bearing  arms  with  Bacon  at 
Green  Springs,  but  not  as  a  rebel  against  the 
King,"  answered  Fairfax;  and  again  the  prose 
cutor  smiled.  "  No  doubt,"  said  he,  "  thou  wilt 
as  readily  assent  to  the  third  count  of  the  indict 
ment,  wherein  thou  standest  charged  with  the 
stealing  and  feloniously  conveying  to  Bacon  from 
the  house  of  Colonel  Boynton,  where  it  had  been 
lodged  for  safe  keeping,  a  state  paper  of  grave 
importance.  How  sayst  thou  as  to  this  ?  " 

"  I  desire  to  know  what  state  paper  I  am  charged 
with  taking,"  said  Fairfax,  quietly. 

"  Call  Benjamin  Boynton !  " 

Ere  his  name  was  uttered,  the  giant  form  of  Big 
Boynton  was  seen  elbowing  its  way  through  the 
crowd  to  the  witness-stand. 

"  Look  upon  the  prisoner  !  Hast  seen  him  ere 
now  ?  " 

At  the  question  the  giant  slowly  opened  his  red 
191 


White  Aprons. 

eyes,  which  he  ordinarily  held  half  shut,  and  stared 
hard  at  Fairfax.  At  length  he  said:  "'Tis  the 
man.  I'  d  swear  to  him  on  Tyburn  Hill.  He 
hath  the  same  set  o'  the  shoulders,  and  the  same 
backward  carriage  o'  the  head,  like  one  who  had 
ne'er  looked  on  his  better." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  broke  in  Beverley  impatiently ;  "  't  is 
needless  to  say  more.  The  recognizance  is  full 
and  perfect.  Now  state  to  the  court  what  took 
place  at  Boynton  Hall  on  that  night  when  the 
papers  were  stolen." 

"  What  papers  ?  "  asked  Fairfax,  quickly ;  and 
ere  the  prosecutor  could  protest  Boynton  answered 
dully,  "  Why,  Nat.  Bacon's  commission,  of  course ; 
you  should  know,  who  stole  it." 

"  Ha,"  cried  Fairfax,  triumphantly,  whilst  Berke 
ley  turned  red  with  rage,  "was  there  indeed  a 
commission  from  the  King  to  Bacon?  Then  I 
have  nothing  further  to  answer  upon  this  count. 
'T  were  waste  of  time  to  tarry  on  this  matter.  As 
I  confess  to  the  securing  of  the  King's  commission, 
so  I  do  most  freely  confess  myself  to  have  been 
in  arms ;  yet  do  I  repel  the  aspersion  of  traitor  and 
rebel  which  hath  been  cast  upon  me.  What  I  have 
done  has  been  in  defence  of  His  Majesty's  interests. 
I  have  fought  against  the  Indians  who  were  slay 
ing  the  King's  servants  and  despoiling  them  of 
192 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

their  means  of  livelihood.  I  have  upheld  the  com 
mission  of  Nathaniel  Bacon,  signed  by  Sir  William 
Berkeley  and  ratified  by  act  of  assembly.  When 
the  Governor  expressed  his  confidence  in  his 
loyalty  and  his  valor,  and  when  later  he  did  see 
fit  to  tax  him  with  '  coward  '  and  '  fool,'  and  above 
all,  when  he  took  upon  himself  to  hold  back  the 
King's  commission,  'twas  Berkeley,  not  Bacon, 
who  taxed  himself  of  treason  to  our  Sovereign." 

"  Enough,"  cried  Ludwell,  sternly  ;  "  we  are  not 
met  to  listen  to  the  mad  attacks  of  malice  and 
rancor  against  our  Governor  and  the  Chief  Justice 
of  this  court ;  but  I  charge  you,  gentlemen  of  the 
jury,  that  ye  take  note  of  this  fellow's  words,  and 
carry  well  in  mind  what  bearing  they  have  upon 
the  second  count  of  this  indictment.  Is  the  prose 
cutor  ready  to  proceed  with  his  witnesses  on  this 
head  ? " 

But  the  words  which  had  been  uttered  had 
aroused  intense  excitement  among  both  jury  and 
spectators,  for  rumors  had  for  some  time  been 
abroad,  the  truth  whereof  no  man  knew,  that 
Berkeley  had  suppressed  a  royal  commission  to 
Bacon,  —  something  that  it  would  by  no  means  suit 
the  Governor  and  his  adherents  to  have  known,  as 
the  prosecutor  well  understood.  His  blundering 
witness  was  making  it  too  clear,  and  the  ominous 
13  193 


White  Aprons, 

murmur  in  the  court-room,  as  well  as  Berkeley's 
look,  warned  him  that  this  matter  must  be  probed 
no  farther.  With  the  adroitness  of  his  calling  he 
avoided  the  difficulty.  "  Thou  didst  never  read 
this  paper,  I  think?"  he  said  to  the  witness. 

"  No,  not  I,"  answered  Boynton. 

"  Then,"  said  the  prosecutor,  "  I  find  that  I 
have  no  sufficient  proof  upon  this  count,  and  will 
proceed  to  the  next. 

"  May  it  please  Your  Honors,  I  have  but  one 
witness  to  this  heavy  charge  ;  but  methinks  he  will 
prove  all  sufficient,  and  the  more  so  that  he  was  a 
late  companion  in  arms  with  the  prisoner,  and  him 
self  a  repentant  and  remorseful  rebel  pardoned  by 
the  Governor's  clemency.  Call  Arthur  Thorn  !  " 

At  this  name,  for  the  first  time  this  day,  Penelope 
Payne  put  back  her  veil ;  and  had  there  been  any 
whose  attention  was  not  fixed  upon  the  bar  of 
judgment,  he  might  have  observed  that  the  eyes  so 
lately  veiled  by  moisture  of  pity  now  blazed  with 
a  wrath  which  burned  away  tears  as  the  fierce  sun 
of  August  dries  the  dewdrops  on  the  blades  of 
summer  grass. 

"  Thou  wretch  !  "  quoth  she ;  but  none  noted  her. 

Court —  "  Dost  thou  know  the  prisoner  ? " 

Thorn  — "I  do." 

Court  —  "  How  long  hast  thou  known  him  ? " 
194 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

Thorn  —  "A  matter  of  two  years,  since  ever  he 
came  to  the  country." 

Court — "Were  you  with  him  in  Bacon's  army 
at  Gloucester  Court  House?" 

Thorn  — "I  was." 

Court  —  "  Didst  ever  hear  him  say  aught  touch 
ing  the  taking  off  of  Berkeley?" 

Thorn  —  "  Ay,  I  heard  him  say  that  Berkeley's 
death  would  be  the  greatest  good  that  could  befall 
the  country,  since  if  that  came  to  pass  all  would 
unite  under  Bacon." 

Court  —  "Did  ever  anything  happen  particular 
that  made  thee  believe  Fairfax  devised  himself  the 
taking  of  the  Governor's  life  ?  " 

Thorn  — "There  did." 

Court  —  "  Tell  thy  story  to  the  court." 

Thorn  —  "  I  trust  Your  Honors  will  pardon  me  if 
my  story  be  over  long,  for  many  incidents  thereof 
are  fixed  in  my  mind,  and  I  tell  it  with  deep  regret, 
which  hindereth  me,  and  plucketh  me  back  from 
bearing  testimony  thus  against  a  comrade  in  arms, 
and  a  former  friend." 

Fairfax  gnawed  his  under  lip,  as  though  to  be 
called  this  man's  friend  were  worse  aspersion  than 
the  charge  of  treason  and  murder. 

Court—  "  Say  it  at  what  length  thou  wilt." 

Thorn  —  "  Then,  may  it  please  the  court,  it  was 

'95 


White  Aprons. 

one  evening  in  October  last,  just  before  Bacon  was 
taken  ill.  The  sun  was  fading  in  the  skies,  when, 
chancing  to  find  myself  outside  the  canvas  flap  of 
General  Bacon's  tent,  —  " 

("Eavesdropping  as  usual,"  muttered  Fairfax 
under  his  breath.) 

"  —  I  was  about  to  enter;  but  hearing  voices 
within  I  paused,  fearing  my  company  might  be  held 
an  intrusion.  Even  while  I  halted  thus,  I  saw  a 
black  coming  out  —  a  black  whom  I  recognized  at 
once  as  the  body  servant  of  Sir  William  Berkeley, 
and  under  his  arm  he  bore  a  pigeon  and  a  white 
packet." 

Court  —  "  Heard  ye  anything  said  ?  " 

Thorn  —  "  Ay,  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  prisoner 
say :  "  Pompey,  here  is  a  half-crown  for  thee,  and 
I  will  make  it  a  whole  one  an  these  safely  reach 
the  one  for  whom  they  be  intended." 

"Being  much  wrought  upon  to  pluck  out  the 
heart  of  this  mystery,  I  passed  in  as  Pompey 
passed  out,  and  then  I  saw  the  prisoner  sitting  with 
his  head  on  his  hands,  and  his  brow  as  gloomy  as 
though  he  saw  the  scaffold  which  that  night's  work 
should  nail  for  him." 

"  A  crafty  thrust !  "  groaned  Fairfax. 

"A  dastardly  stab  in  the  dark!"  muttered 
Colonel  Payne. 

196 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

"Stepping  up  to  him  I  said,  *  Methinks  thou 
couldst  scarce  look  solemner  were  there  poison  in 
your  packet.'  " 

Scarce  looking  up  or  seeming  to  give  much  heed 
to  who  it  was  spoke,  he  muttered,  "Ay,  poison; 
enough,  perchance,  to  be  the  spoiling  of  two 
lives." 

At  this  a  thrill  of  horror  ran  through  the  listeners. 
The  taking  off  of  the  Governor  might,  to  a  mad 
fanatic,  seem  only  but  a  form  of  warfare ;  but  that 
he  should  aim  at  another,  perhaps  Lady  Berkeley, 
the  innocent  to  suffer  with  the  guilty,  —  this  were 
the  unpardonable  sin. 

Angry  murmurs  began  to  rise  from  all  quarters : 

"Hang  him!" 

"  To  the  gallows  !  " 

"  He  should  be  drawn  and  quartered." 

"Prisoner  at  the  bar,"  quoth  Berkeley,  "the 
evidence  against  you  is  grave ;  have  ye  any  to  bring 
against  it?  Unhappily  my  servant  Pompey  died 
that  same  month  of  October,  of  the  Jamestown 
fever,  else  might  we  have  a  stronger  light  on  this 
coil.  I,  too,  was  taken  down  about  the  same  time, 
and  Lady  Berkeley." 

"  Faith,"  said  Ludwell,  "  this  tallies  but  too  well 
with  the  words  of  the  witness.  Didst  thou  eat  of 
the  flesh  of  pigeon?" 

197 


White  Aprons. 

Berkeley  —  "  Why,  birds  were  most  of  our  meat 
this  autumn;  but  I  recall  naught  special." 

Ludwell  —  "  The  case  is  clear ;  yet  that  all  may 
be  after  the  form  of  law  we  will  hear  the  prisoner 
if  he  hath  aught  to  say." 

Fairfax  —  "  Your  Honor,  I  have  listened  in 
silence,  but  not  that  silence  which  doth  give  assent 
to  the  words  of  this  witness,  which  are  as  cunning 
a  tissue  of  truth  and  falsehood  as  any  ever  woven 
out  of  hell.  The  words  he  doth  attribute  to  me  I 
did  speak." 

"  He  owns  it." 

"'T  is  his  death  warrant." 

"  I  did  speak  the  words,"  repeated  Fairfax,  un 
moved,  "  but  with  no  such  meaning  as  he  doth 
impute.  '  T  is  true  I  desired  the  death  of  Berkeley, 
and  I  would  have  shot  him  to  the  heart  had  I  met 
him  in  fair  fight  upon  the  field  of  battle,  —  and  so 
I  doubt  not  would  any  one  of  you  have  done  to 
Bacon,  —  but 't  is  a  far  cry  from  war  to  murder  and 
from  honest  powder  to  base  poison." 

The  prisoner's  words  were  spoken  so  like  a  true 
man  that  they  began  to  weigh  in  his  favor.  But 
Ludwell  sternly  bade  him  keep  to  the  point,  and 
explain,  if  he  could,  his  words  and  the  packet 
thereon. 

Thus  bidden,  he  opened  his  lips ;  but  no  words 
198 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

would  come.  Thrice  he  essayed,  and  after  the  last 
vain  effort  he  said  dryly,  "Your  Honors,  I  can 
say  naught,  —  not  because  I  am  guilty,  but  because 
it  toucheth  another  as  nearly  as  myself,  and  I 
would  rather  die  a  thousand  times  than  open  the 
matter  here  to-day." 

Ludwell  —  "So,  'tis  a  conspiracy.  Think  not 
under  such  thin  varnish  of  honor  thou  shalt  escape. 
You  see,  gentlemen,  he  hath  no  defence,  and  I 
move  that  the  case  be  charged  and  go  at  once  to 
the  jury." 

.  "I  ask  to  be  heard  as  a,  witness  for  the  prisoner  !  " 
At  these  words,  uttered  in  the  soft  plaintive  tone 
peculiar  to  the  women  of  Virginia,  there  fell  upon 
that  room  a  deep  amazement. 
"  'T  is  Mistress  Payne ! " 
"  Nay,  surely  not." 
"  Ay  —  look  at  her  father ! " 
Truth   to    say,  Colonel    Payne    gazed    on    his 
daughter  as  on  one  suddenly  gone  mad  from  stress 
of  excitement;  and  he  would  have  drawn  her  away 
to  the  door,  but  she  put  him  gently  aside,  and  stood 
there  like  some  prophetess  of  old,  the  wintry  sun 
shining  on  the  glowing  coil  of  her  hair,  and  her 
eyes   dark  with   feeling,  and  showing  darker  yet 
against  the  marble  pallor  of  her  cheek. 
"  Call  Mistress  Penelope  Payne  !  " 
199 


White  Aprons. 

At  the  words  she  moved  forward  as  one  moves 
in  a  dream,  conscious,  yet  profoundly  heedless,  of 
all  around,  till,  passing  Arthur  Thorn,  she  drew  her 
petticoat  slightly  aside  that  it  might  not  touch  him. 
He  cringed. 

For  Fairfax,  the  light  of  a  mighty  love  and  ten 
derness  shone  in  his  eyes  as  he  gazed  upon  the 
vision  of  an  angel  suddenly  alighted  as  'twere 
upon  this  planet  to  plead  his  cause.  He  never 
dreamed  that  it  would  avail  aught;  but  'twas 
enough  and  too  much  of  happiness  to  see  her  stand 
ing  there,  his  friend,  his  love,  his  guardian  angel. 

"  May  it  please  the  court,"  quoth  the  vision,  —  her 
voice,  which  trembled  mightily  at  first,  growing 
ever  clearer  and  stronger  as  she  went  on,  —  "I  ask 
to  be  heard,  for  I  have  that  to  say  which  will  set 
both  prisoner  and  witness  in  far  different  light 
from  that  wherein  they  now  stand  before  you. 
'T  is  not  an  easy  task  for  a  maiden  to  lay  bare  her 
heart,  yet  better  so  than  that  an  innocent  man 
suffer  and  all  of  you  stand  charged  at  the  last  day 
with  bloodguiltiness.  I  know  not  the  ways  of 
courts,  whereby,  as  it  hath  looked  to  me  this  day, 
all  roads  save  those  that  lead  to  the  scaffold  are 
barred ;  but  I  do  beseech  you  that  ye  lend  an  open 
ear  to  the  plain  tale  of  an  untutored,  untrained 
girl,  who  hath  no  other  counsellor  than  her  own 
200 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

heart,  —  for  neither  to  mother,  father,  nor  friend 
have  I  disclosed  that  which  I  would  now  lay  before 
you." 

At  these  words  Sir  William  Berkeley,  once  more 
something  of  the  true  knight  he  had  been  before 
the  sulphurous  cloud  of  war  hid  his  better  nature, 
cried  out: 

"  Mistress  Payne,  say  on,  and  thou  shalt  be 
heard ;  I  promise  thee  the  protection  of  the  court, 
and  that  thy  story  shall  be  attended  to  with  open 
mind." 

"  I  thank  Your  Excellency,  and  I  do  rely  upon 
the  kindness  of  the  court.  Know,  then,  that  this 
Arthur  Thorn  hath  vowed  long  ago  that  he  would 
do  the  prisoner  some  harm." 

"  Pish  !  Pish !  "  interrupted  the  prosecutor,  "  what 
motive  could  he  have  ?  " 

"  Silence !  "  thundered  the  Governor.  "  The  wit 
ness  is  speaking:  let  none  break  in  upon  her 
discourse." 

"What  motive  had  he?"  said  Penelope,  turning 
toward  the  prosecutor  and  repeating  his  question 
with  scorn  in  her  voice.  "  The  mean  motive  of  one 
who  loves  unworthily,  who  cares  naught  for  the 
happiness  of  her  he  professes  to  love,  unless  it  be 
his  own  happiness  as  well,  and  who  would  rather 
see  her  dead  at  his  feet  than  wed  to  another." 
201 


White  Aprons. 

The  infernal  gleam  in  Thorn's  eyes  attested  the 
truth  of  her  won's,  and  all  who  looked  on  him  felt 
that  it  was  even  so. 

"  Ay,  but  what  other  ?  "  questioned  Ludwell ;  and 
his  harsh  query  fell  upon  the  girl's  heart,  as  the 
rude  hand  of  the  executioner  tears  away  the  ker 
chief  from  the  neck  of  one  about  to  die  by  the  axe. 

The  maiden  red  which  had  quite  forsaken  the 
white  cheek  now  rushed  up  over  cheek  and  brow 
till  it  lost  itself  in  the  ripples  of  her  hair ;  but  she 
flinched  not.  Moving  close  to  the  side  of  Bryan 
Fairfax,  she  laid  her  hand  upon  the  hand  of  the 
almost  convicted  felon  and  answered: 

"  This  other !  " 

Thus  they  stood,  like  man  and  wife  before  God's 
altar,  and  the  stillness  of  death  fell  around  them. 

"  Go  on,  girl,"  quoth  Berkeley  at  length,  but  in 
a  softer  tone  than  he  had  used  that  day.  Per 
chance  his  mind  was  dwelling  on  the  day  when 
Dame  Frances  Stevens  even  thus  laid  her  hand  in 
his,  and  promised  to  be  his  helpmeet,  for  better,  for 
worse,  in  joy  and  in  sorrow ;  and  he  felt  a  sudden 
thrill  of  human  sympathy. 

"  Ay,  give  me  but  time  and  I  will  tell  all.    The  love 

I  bear  this  man  is  the  sad  fruit  of  the  bitter  roots 

of  strife  and  hatred.     The  first  time  ever  my  eyes 

lighted  on  him  was  yonder,  at  Rosemary,  whither 

202 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

he  came  at  Bacon's  command  to  bring  my  mother 
a  prisoner  to  Green  Springs.  That  day  I  took  an 
oath  that  come  what  might,  I  would  never  forgive 
that  deed,  nor  cease  to  count  the  doer  of  it  my  foe." 

The  voice  trembled  again,  but  she  caught  herself 
bravely  and  went  on:  "God  forgive  the  making 
of  the  oath  rather  than  the  breaking  of  it,  for  I  had 
not  been  two  days  in  his  company  ere  I  felt  the 
assurance  in  my  heart  that,  fight  under  what  flag 
he  might,  the  heart  that  beat  in  his  breast  was 
loyal,  true,  and  honorable." 

The  fickle  folk  in  the  audience  started  a  faint 
cheer,  but  Ludwell  checked  them  sternly.  "All 
this  is  mighty  pretty,"  he  said,  "  but  it  hath  precious 
little  to  do  with  the  matter  o'  the  poison." 

"  Ay,"  echoed  Berkeley,  suspicion  jarring  in  his 
tone,  "  what  of  the  poison  ?  Canst  thou,  Mistress 
Payne,  cast  any  light  upon  that  packet  ?  " 

"Yes,  that  can  I,"  answered  Penelope,  "a  light 
so  bright  that  it  shall  leave  naught  hid  or  in 
darkness.  Your  Excellency,  Bryan  Fairfax,  in 
this  last  autumn,  did,  in  the  disguise  of  a  Dutch 
trader,  visit  my  father's  house  at  Rosemary ;  and 
though  I  knew  him  for  what  he  was,  I  durst  make 
no  sign,  lest  he  be  taken  and  shot  as  a  spy ;  for  my 
father  was  even  then  at  home  on  leave  of  absence 
from  the  Governor." 

203 


White  Aprons. 

"  Penelope  /  "  The  word  broke  from  the  lips  of 
Colonel  Payne,  and  such  a  world  of  grief,  of  shame, 
of  tender  reproach  were  in  the  tone  that  the 
maiden  sobbed  aloud,  —  "  O  Father,  forgive  me!  I 
ne'er  meant  any  deception  towards  thee  —  I  pray 
thee,  hear  me  but  to  the  end." 

Mastering  her  emotions  at  length,  she  continued: 
"  When  I  had  escaped  to  my  chamber,  and  had 
spread  out  my  letter,  I  found  it  filled  with  sweet 
and  bitter — he  loved  me  —  and  now,  alas,  I  knew 
too  well  that  I  loved  him  as  well.  He  prayed  me 
send  him  some  word,  some  token  on  which  he 
might  hang  a  thread  of  hope." 

Silence  again,  and  for  a  moment  it  seemed  she 
could  not  go  on ;  yet  she  did,  and  more  boldly. 

"  That  night  came  the  Governor's  servant  bear 
ing  despatches  for  my  father.  I  remember  he  sat 
late  over  the  candle  reading  of  them.  For  me,  my 
resolve  was  taken.  Pompey  (as  Your  Excellency 
knows)  was  my  father's  servant,  and  by  him  given 
to  you,  and  from  a  tiny  maid  this  old  servant  had 
known  and  loved  me,  and  I  mind  me  still  how  I 
wept  when  my  father  sent  him  away.  But  to  be 
brief,  I  did  charge  him,  by  the  love  of  other  days, 
to  be  my  messenger  as  well  as  my  father's ;  that  he 
should,  as  the  servant  of  a  poor  planter  having 
poultry  for  sale,  find  his  way  to  Bacon's  camp  and 
204 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

make  opportunity  to  see  Bryan  Fairfax,  to  whom 
he  should  deliver  my  letter,  with  a  message  that  he 
should  straightway  answer  that  within  by  the 
bearer:  and  to  make  it  sure  of  that  answer's  reach 
ing  none  but  me,  I  bade  Pompey  bind  it  under  the 
wing  of  my  white  pigeon,  which  would  find  its  way 
home  though  't  were  from  New  Sweden  itself." 

Here,  at  length,  was  a  clew;  the  onlookers 
brightened,  the  jury  grew  more  attentive ;  but  Lud- 
well  and  Berkeley  only  hardened  both  their  hearts 
and  faces.  "  Perhaps  you  will  give  us  the  spirit  of 
his  reply,"  quoth  Berkeley,  with  more  than  met  the 
ear  in  his  tone;  but  he  little  knew  the  nature  of  her 
he  had  to  deal  with  if  he  thought  to  daunt  her  thus. 

"  Nay,"  she  flashed  out,  "  not  the  spirit  alone,  but 
the  substance.  For  mine,  't  was  brief  indeed,  and 
comprised  but  these  words :  '  The  daughter  of 
Colonel  Payne  will  never  wed  with  a  rebel.  If 
thou  dost  indeed  love  her,  come  over  to  the  side  of 
thy  Governor  and  thy  King  ! ' ' 

"  Bravely  said  !  Now  thou  art  mine  own  daughter 
indeed,"  quoth  Colonel  Payne. 

"  And  he,  —  what  said  he  ?  "  questioned  Berkeley. 

"  My  lord,  here  is  his  letter." 

With  trembling  hand  at  these  words,  the  maiden 
drew  from  her  breast  a  packet,  bound  with  red  ribbon, 
and  Arthur  Thorn  turned  livid  as  he  looked  upon  it. 
205 


White  Aprons. 

Every  head  bent  forward,  and  every  ear  was 
strained  to  catch  the  syllables  as  they  fell  from  her 
lips  while  she  read :  — 

"  SWEET  MISTRESS,"  —  thus  it  ran,  —  "  Thy  letter 
is  like  a  dagger  rubbed  with  balm,  healing  even 
while  it  hurts.  Thou  lovest  me  —  'tis  as  vain  to 
hide  it  from  me  as  from  thyself ;  and  knowing  this, 
I  can  trust  our  future  to  the  white  wings  of  the 
peace  which  I  see  hovering  over  my  poor  distraught 
country.  Yes,  trust  to  it  as  now  I  trust  this  note 
to  the  white  wing  of  the  dove  thou  hast  sent  me  as 
a  messenger.  For  the  conditions  thou  wouldst 
bind  me  to  I  can  but  answer  in  the  words  of  a 
better  man :  '  I  could  not  love  thee,  dear,  so  much, 
loved  I  not  honor  more.' 

"  Thine  only  and  thine  ever, 

"  FAIRFAX." 

"  We  have  heard  enough,  Mistress  Payne ;  you 
can  leave  the  witness-stand,"  said  Berkeley,  filled 
with  wrath  over  the  sympathy  written  on  the  faces 
of  all  around,  and  half  regretting  the  protection  he 
had  extended  to  the  witness.  "  Gentlemen  of  the 
jury,"  he  concluded,  when  the  public  prosecutor 
had  spoken  once  more,  "  ye  have  heard  the  evi 
dence,  —  ye  have  heard  how  on  the  first  counts  the 
prisoner  stands,  confessed  by  his  own  mouth,  guilty 
206 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

as  charged.  'T  is  for  you  to  decide  whether  one 
who  hath  the  hardihood,  even  now,  to  glory  in  such 
deeds  were  like  to  stick  at  the  last.  A  thief,  a  spy, 
and  a  rebel  he  is,  by  his  own  confession ;  it  only 
remaineth  for  you  to  decide  whether  he  did  also 
seek  to  become  a  murderer." 

The  jury  left  the  room,  but  't  was  a  short  time 
ere  their  return  brought  all  eagerly  trooping  back 
to  their  seats  in  the  court.  The  clerk  called  the 
roll  while  the  jury  stood. 

"  Are  ye  all  agreed  of  your  verdict  ?  " 

"  Yea." 

"  Who  shall  say  for  you  ?  " 

"  The  foreman." 

Then  said  the  clerk  :  "  Bryan  Fairfax,  hold  up 
thy  hand.  Look  upon  the  jury.  Gentlemen  of  the 
jury,  look  upon  the  prisoner,  —  is  he  guilty  or  not 
guilty  as  in  the  indictment  charged  ?  " 

"  Guilty  of  bearing  arms  under  Bacon." 

Berkeley's  eyes  flashed  with  rage.  "  That  is  no 
verdict,"  he  thundered,  "  and  we  will  not  receive  it. 
Is  he  guilty  or  not  guilty  as  charged  in  the  indict 
ment?  It  is  not  for  you  to  draw  distinctions. 
Retire,  and  return  your  verdict  in  the  form  in 
which  the  law  and  the  court  command,  or  it  shall 
be  worse  for  you." 

Again  a  murmur  arose  from  the  spectators,  and 
207 


White  Aprons. 

the  faces  of  the  jury  flushed  angrily  as  they  with 
drew.  When  at  length  they  came  back  into  court, 
and  the  question  as  to  their  verdict  was  asked  with 
the  same  solemnity  as  before,  they  stood  with  com 
pressed  lips  and  determined  faces,  and  their  fore 
man  answered :  "  Guilty  on  the  first  and  on  the 
second  count,  but  recommended  to  mercy." 

"  How  say  you  of  the  last  counts  ?  " 

"  Not  guilty" 

At  these  words  such  a  cheer  shook  the  house  as 
could  have  been  heard  a  mile  away.  It  was  a 
cheer,  not  so  much  for  Bryan  Fairfax  as  for  Pe 
nelope  Payne.  But  Berkeley  liked  it  none  the  better 
for  that.  It  was  the  first  open  defiance  of  his  will, 
and  he  resented  it  with  all  the  gall  and  bitterness 
of  his  perverted  nature. 

Beverley  and  Ludwell  put  their  heads  close,  and 
Ludwell  whispered  in  the  Governor's  ear:  "  T'  is  an 
infamy  to  have  acquitted  him  of  the  well-proven 
attempt  on  thy  life,  but  no  matter ;  the  treason  is 
clear,  —  off  with  him  to  the  gallows  !  " 

But  Beverley,  perchance  through  having  less  in 
his  own  person  to  resent,  saw  more  clearly  than  his 
fellows  that  the  temper  of  the  people  was  not  to  be 
tried  too  far. 

"  Forget  not,"  said  he,  "that  there  are  other  pris 
oners  to  be  tried  for  this  rebellion,  and  it  is  not 
208 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

wise  to  thwart  too  openly  a  jury  drawn  from  our 
own  friends ;  besides,  remember  the  coming  of  the 
commissioners.  Methinks  it  were  well  to  have 
one  instance  of  clemency  to  point  to,  and  all  the 
better  that  't  were  the  pardon  of  an  affront  to  one 
of  his  judges,  and  of  the  suspicion  of  a  graver 
offence  toward  another." 

"  'T  is  easy  to  forgive  where  we  have  suffered 
no  injury,"  sneered  Ludwell. 

The  point  of  Beverley's  argument  had  penetrated 
Berkeley's  mind.  He  felt  that  to  press  his  author 
ity  too  far  was  to  lose  all.  Loath  as  he  was  to 
risk,  or  even  to  defer  his  vengeance,  caution  con 
quered.  "  Since  you  are  not  agreed,  gentlemen," 
said  he,  somewhat  coldly  to  Beverley  and  Ludwell, 
"  I  must  decide  betwixt  ye,  and  I  hold  Beverley's 
counsel  to  lean  more  to  the  side  of  prudence, 
though  methinks  Ludwell  hath  spoken  more  like 
true  friend  of  mine.  Yet  even  at  the  risk  of  letting 
the  scoundrel  escape,  't  is  safer  to  temporize.  We 
have  him  still,  and  if  I  have  aught  to  say,  the 
gibbet  shall  still  claim  its  own." 

Having  spoken  in  low  tones  to  his  associates, 
Governor  Berkeley  rose,  and  every  eye  was  fixed 
on  him :  "  Bryan  Fairfax,"  said  he,  "  you  are  con 
victed  of  a  heinous  offence  against  the  state, — 
an  offence  for  which  the  penalty  is  death.  Your 
14  209 


White  Aprons. 

judges  do  accordingly  sentence  you  to  stand  upon 
the  scaffold  at  James  City  from  nine  o'clock  until 
noon,  and  afterward  to  be  hanged  by  the  neck 
till  you  are  dead,  —  and  may  the  Lord  have  mercy 
on  your  soul." 

A  rising  tide  of  wrath  began  to  make  itself 
heard,  but  Berkeley  stayed  it  with  his  hand  as  he 
concluded : 

"  Yet  since  the  jury  hath  recommended  thee  to 
mercy,  we  have  decided  to  grant  a  respite  of  an 
hundred  days,  with  ten  more  added  of  our  grace, 
wherein  you  may,  if  you  will,  seek  pardon  of  our 
Sovereign  Lord,  the  King  ;  and,"  he  added,  with  the 
same  cruel  irony  with  which  he  had  formerly  ad 
dressed  Drummond,  "bring  to  the  notice  of  his 
advisers  the  points  which  your  doubtless  profound 
study  of  the  law  has  enabled  you  to  raise.  Where 
fore  we  do  grant  you  reprieve  until  the  twenty-third 
day  of  April  next." 

"  Faith,"  said  one  to  another  as  the  court  broke 
up,  "  't  is  but  a  refinement  of  cruelty ;  for  how  can 
news  cross  and  re-cross  the  ocean  in  any  such 
space  of  time,  —  above  all  when  every  vessel  is 
hindered  by  winter  storms?" 

But  when  Penelope  Payne  heard  the  words,  joy 
conquered  that  soul  which  sorrow  could  not  bend. 
She  grew  white,  she  staggered,  she  would  have 

210 


The  Trial  of  Bryan  Fairfax. 

fallen,  but  her  father's  arms  were  around  her,  and 
his  voice  whispered  in  her  ear :  "  My  poor  child, 
would  I  had  died  ere  this  befell." 

"  Did  I  do  wrong,  father  ?  " 

"  Nay,  my  daughter ;  't  is  no  mortal's  fault  that 
love  conquers  him.  Methinks  thou  hast  been  but 
the  brave  maid  I  would  have  had  thee.  Come 
away.  Whate'er  comes  to  thee  we  will  bear  it 
together." 

Scarce  heeding  his  words,  Penelope  murmured 
over  and  over,  "  The  King's  pardon  —  I  must  have 
the  King's  pardon !  " 

"  Ay,"  said  Colonel  Payne,  breathing  deep  deter 
mination,  "  and  thou  shalt,  or  thou  and  I  will  die 
in  the  seeking  of  it." 


CHAPTER  XII. 
PENELOPE'S  PILGRIMAGE. 

Though  seas  and  lands  be  twixt  us  both, 
Our  faith  and  troth 

Like  separated  souls, 

All  time  and  space  controls. 
Above  the  highest  sphere  we  meet 
Unseen,  unknown  ;  and  greet  as  angels  greet. 

WHEN  Penelope  left  the  court-room  her  mind 
was  set  in  that  heroic  key  to  which  danger 
and  difficulty  are  but  a  spur  and  an  excitement. 
She  would  have  faced  the  rack  or  the  stake  without 
a  tremor.  But  reaction  is  the  inevitable  penalty  of 
such  exaltation  ;  and  in  the  watches  of  the  night,  as 
she  lay  in  her  little  white  bed  in  her  chamber  at 
Rosemary,  her  forebodings  conjured  up  lions  in  her 
path  till  her  heart  sank,  but  never  failed.  The 
sea,  the  dark,  the  stormy,  the  terrible,  must  be 
crossed,  and  alone  ;  for  the  physician  had  declared 
but  the  other  day  that  her  mother's  life  hung  by 
such  an  uncertain  thread  that  none  could  say  what 

212 


Penelope's  Pilgrimage. 

day  might  end  it,  and  't  was  clear  that  her  father 
could  not  be  spared  from  home. 

To  be  separated  from  this  dear  mother  in  such  a 
season  of  storm  and  stress,  —  what  a  trial !  And 
perhaps  never  to  look  upon  her  face  again,  —  but 
from  that  thought  she  turned  away,  as  youth  has 
power  to  do  from  that  which  it  finds  insupportable. 

It  was  agreed  between  her  and  her  father  that 
she  should  sail  on  the  "  White  Lady,"  which  was 
about  to  depart,  with  Captain  Bennett,  whose  wife 
was  but  too  glad  of  a  companion  on  the  voyage. 
So  far  all  was  clear ;  but  this  uncle  to  whose  care 
she  was  to  be  consigned,  —  what  did  she  know  of 
him  ?  What  did  even  her  father  know  of  him  save 
that  he  had  married  her  mother's  younger  half- 
sister,  Elizabeth  St.  Michel,  when  her  grandfather, 
a  French  Huguenot,  had  sought  to  earn  a  livelihood 
in  England?  From  time  to  time  rumors  had 
crossed  the  water  and  come  to  Colonel  Payne,  that 
his  brother-in-law  was  a  rising  man  in  politics,  a 
faithful  servant  of  the  crown,  favorably  known  in 
the  navy  office  for  his  shrewdness  and  diligence ; 
and  once  a  packet  had  brought  from  over  seas  a 
trunk  full  of  modish  gowns  and  dainty  laces,  and  a 
high  tortoise-shell  comb,  and  a  cloak  of  cramoisie. 
Penelope  remembered  to  have  seen  a  tear  fall  from 
her  mother's  eye,  and  to  have  heard  her  say,  "  'T  is 
213 


White  Aprons. 

good  of  Samuel  to  have  sent  me  these  reminders 
of  Elizabeth ;  "  but  she  never  wore  any  of  them. 
Penelope  had  oft  pictured  to  herself  the  form  and 
face  of  this  dead  and  gone  aunt,  who  loved  laces 
and  cramoisie  cloaks,  and  perfumed  jessamine 
gloves.  By  the  aid  of  a  miniature  in  her  mother's 
drawer  she  could  easily  conjure  up  the  merry, 
dancing  eyes,  the  dark  hair  turned  over  a  cushion 
away  from  the  forehead,  and  the  childish,  petulant, 
pouting,  altogether  bewitching  mouth. 

"  Had  thine  aunt  but  changed  her  black  hair  to 
copper-colored,  as  I  am  told  the  London  dames  oft 
do  by  the  aid  of  dyes,  the  portrait  might  pass  for 
one  of  thee,  Penelope."  So  her  father  had  said  to 
her  a  year  since ;  and  Mistress  Penelope,  looking 
in  her  glass,  had  sighed  and  blushed  and  whispered 
to  herself,  "  I  would  I  were  half  as  beautiful." 

If  only  this  aunt  were  living,  the  going  over  seas 
(so  she  thought)  would  have  lost  half  its  terrors ; 
but  her  uncle  seemed  far  away,  a  stranger  in 
a  strange  land,  —  how  would  he  receive  her  ?  How 
much  help  could  he  give  her  in  gaining  an  audience 
of  the  King  ?  An  audience  of  the  King  /  Ah, 
that  was  the  most  terrible  of  all.  That  she,  Pen 
elope  Payne,  an  unfledged,  unschooled,  provincial 
maiden,  should  present  herself  before  a  monarch 


214 


Penelope's  Pilgrimage. 

to  ask  a  boon,  —  sure  never  since  the  days  of 
Esther  had  any  undertaken  so  rash  a  mission. 

One  thought  alone  could  sustain  her  fainting 
courage,  —  the  vision  of  that  white  set  face,  those 
arms  in  bonds,  rose  before  her,  and  made  her  ready 
to  brave  every  peril.  "  For  Bryan's  sake,"  was  the 
motto  borne  on  her  breast. 

The  days  came  and  went,  and  she  heeded  not 
the  flight  of  time.  In  one  place  only  her  heart 
found  peace,  —  by  the  bedside  of  her  mother,  where 
peace  ever  reigned.  It  had  been  agreed  between 
her  and  her  father  that  nothing  of  her  troubles 
should  be  brought  in  to  cloud  the  heavenly  atmos 
phere  of  that  sick  room.  Her  mother  knew  only 
that  her  daughter  had  offered  of  her  own  free  will 
to  go  over  to  seek  the  pardon  of  those  who  were 
under  the  fatal  ban  of  Berkeley's  wrath,  and  de 
spite  all  misgivings,  she  rejoiced  in  her  heart  that 
her  child  was  suddenly  grown  out  of  childishness 
into  something  high  and  heroic,  beyond  her  simple 
ken.  It  was  enough  for  her  that  Penelope's  father 
approved  her  going.  Like  Luther's  little  bird,  she 
sat  upon  the  twig  of  life  content,  letting  God  take 
care. 

Colonel  Payne  wished  from  his  soul  that  he  could 
share  his  wife's  tranquillity;  but  each  one  of  the 
four  days  which  elapsed  between  the  sentencing  of 

215 


White  Aprons. 

Fairfax  and  the  sailing  of  the  "  White  Lady  " 
brought  him  fresh  misgivings.  His  own  memories 
of  London,  and  the  tales  he  had  heard  of  the  Court 
of  the  Merry  Monarch,  taught  him  far  more  than 
his  daughter  could  know  of  possible  snares  and 
pitfalls  spreading  before  her  unwary  feet.  More 
than  once,  indeed,  was  he  moved  to  warn  her  ;  but 
ever  as  he  opened  his  lips,  his  eye  fell  upon  the 
face  whose  radiant  transparency  revealed  the  purity 
of  the  soul  within,  and  he  turned  away  abashed  to 
hint  at  wrong.  He  consoled  himself  by  repeating, 
when  he  was  alone,  the  lines  from  Comus  (a 
masque,  which  as  a  youth  he  had  seen  acted  on 
the  grounds  of  My  Lord,  the  Earl  of  Sandwich), 
and  which  had  made  so  deep  an  impression  that  he 
was  wont  sometimes  to  recite  passages  as  he  rode 
or  walked  alone.  Now  he  recalled  the  entry  of  the 
rabble  rout,  the  wild  orgy,  the  peril  of  the  lady, 
and  then  those  comforting  words : 

"  So  dear  to  heaven  is  saintly  chastity 
That  when  a  soul  is  found  sincerely  so 
A  thousand  liveried  angels  lackey  her, 
Driving  far  off  each  thing  of  sin  and  guilt." 

Yes,  to  this  angelic  guidance  and  guardianship 

he  committed  his  child,  and  thereafter  he  feared 

less  the  hour  of  her  setting  forth.     One  whole  day 

he  devoted  to  writing  a  letter  to  her  uncle,  to  whose 

216 


Penelope's  Pilgrimage. 

care  she  was  going,  —  a  letter  so  touching  in  its 
simplicity,  its  manliness,  and  confident  appeal  to 
the  claims  of  kinship,  that  this  distant  uncle  must 
have  been  hard  of  heart  indeed  if  he  softened  not 
to  sympathy  with  this  niece  come  so  far  on  so  for 
lorn  a  hope.     For  the  further  conciliation  of  his 
brother-in-law,  Colonel  Payne  gathered  together  a 
store  of  all  Virginia  commodities,  tobacco,  and  pipes 
of  Powhattan  clay,  maize  dried  in  the  ear,  together 
with  such  Indian  relics  as  beads,  and  strings  of 
wampum,  and   a  pearl  cap  which   the   Queen  of 
Pamunkey  had   sent  him  as  a  gift.      Much  ease 
of  mind  did  the  good  Colonel  find  in  thus  busying 
himself  with  trifles,  that  he  might  in  the  crowd  of 
little  things  forget  the  great;  and  finally,  there  was 
the  drawing  up  of  the  petition  for  pardon,  and  the 
securing  of  signatures,  which  offered  themselves  so 
plentifully  that  the  tribute  contained  therein  sus 
tained  Penelope,  and  even  raised  within  her  a  sad 
and  painful   pleasure.      If  all  the  world  loves  a 
happy  lover,  much  more  does  it  cherish  one  whose 
love  has  gone  awry.      Many  there  were  too  who 
would  fain  have  shown  her  sympathy,  but  dared 
not,  so  deeply  stood  they  in  dread  of  the  tyrant  in 
the  Governor's  chair.     The  very  jailer  softened  at 
sight  of  her  sorrow-stricken  young  face ;  and  while 
he  durst  not  grant  her  admission  to  the  prison,  he 
217 


White  Aprons. 

bade  her  be  beneath  the  barred  window  at  dusk 
and  he  would  bring  his  prisoner  thither. 

The  memory  of  that  meeting  abode  with  Pene 
lope  Payne  to  the  last  day  of  her  life,  —  the  whis 
pered  greetings,  the  hurried  exchange  of  vows,  the 
reluctant  farewells,  and  finally  the  meeting  of  the 
lips  through  the  iron  bars.  Never  was  betrothal 
kiss  so  sad,  so  solemn,  or  perchance  (by  that 
strange  law  of  compensation  which  evens  the  lot  of 
mortals)  so  sweet. 

All  through  that  last  night  Penelope  felt  it  ting 
ling  upon  her  lips  in  all  its  pain  of  passionate 
sweetness.  All  night  the  last  vows  of  Bryan  Fair 
fax  rang  in  her  ear :  "  I  am  not  worthy,  but  I  love 
thee,  and  living  or  dying  I  am  thine." 

The  next  morning,  the  seventh  of  January,  the 
destined  day  of  her  setting  forth,  dawned  grayly. 
Penelope  dressed  by  candle-light,  and  watched  as 
in  a  dream  the  cording  of  her  chest.  After  one 
hurried  embrace  she  tore  herself  from  her  mother's 
fond  arms,  while  still  enough  mistress  of  herself  to 
keep  back  the  thick  gathering  tears. 

It  was  a  gloomy  day  indeed  for  the  undertaking 
of  a  journey.  The  clouds  swept  scudding  across  the 
sky,  the  trees  shook  in  the  blast,  and  the  trunk  of 
a  giant  pine,  felled  in  last  night's  storm,  lay  athwart 
the  road,  so  that  they  were  compelled  to  alight  and 
218 


Penelopes  Pilgrimage. 

climb  over  it  to  reach  the  dock,  the  spray  blowing 
in  their  faces  as  they  passed. 

On  the  deck  of  the  "White  Lady"  they  saw 
Captain  Bennett  giving  orders  to  the  sailors,  and 
making  ready  as  fast  as  possible  for  the  start. 

"  Must  ye  needs  set  sail  in  weather  like  this  ?  " 
asked  Colonel  Payne,  as  they  joined  him,  having 
with  difficulty  come  aboard  by  means  of  a  rude 
ladder  which  swayed  with  the  swaying  of  the  vessel. 

"  Why,  't  is  no  more  than  we  may  meet  any  day 
in  the  open  sea ;  no  man  looks  for  summer  seas 
in  January.  I  have  tarried  a  week  already,  hoping 
for  calmer  weather.  But  fear  not  for  your  daugh 
ter's  safety;  'tis  not  for  naught  that  I  have  sailed 
the  '  White  Lady '  for  nigh  on  to  thirty  year  in 
every  latitude  from  the  Dutch  coast  to  the  Spanish 
main." 

The  trouble  in  Colonel  Payne's  face  did  not 
lighten.  Suddenly  turning  to  the  maiden  at  his 
side,  he  cried :  "  Penelope,  I  cannot  let  thee  go. 
Tarry  at  least  for  the  next  sailing ;  another  ship  is 
already  loading  and  will  set  out  a  week  hence." 

"  Father,  say  no  more,  I  pray  thee.  It  grieves 
me  sore  to  try  thee  thus ;  but  sure  thou  hast  forgot 
that  a  man's  life  is  at  stake.  April  is  but  three 
months  away,  and  the  ocean  must  be  twice  crossed. 
For  me  I  do  but  count  every  moment  lost  that 
219 


White  Aprons. 

holds  me  here,  and  would  fain  be  in  among  the 
sailors,  hoisting  sails  and  making  fast  the  sheets." 

"  And  has  it  come  to  this,"  said  her  father  with 
grave  sadness,  "that  a  stranger  hath  so  absorbed 
thine  heart  that  thou  hast  no  room  therein  any 
longer  for  those  who  of  old  stood  first  with  thee  ?  " 

"  Oh,  father,  father,  say  not  so,"  cried  Penelope, 
throwing  herself  into  his  arms  and  bursting  forth  in 
a  tempest  of  weeping.  "  Love  me,  father,  for  never 
did  I  crave  thy  love  so  much ;  and  for  myself,  I 
feel  that  I  have  ne'er  before  known  what  love 
meant.  Through  my  love  for  Bryan  my  heart  has 
grown  into  a  deeper  love  for  thee  and  for  my 
mother.  Ah,  how  hard  it  is  to  part  from  her!" 

"  There,  there,"  answered  Colonel  Payne,  sooth 
ingly,  "  thou  wilt  find  lions  enough  in  thy  path 
ahead  to  take  up  all  thine  attention,  and  thou  must 
give  as  little  heed  as  thou  canst  to  the  enemy 
behind  thee.  Remember,  God  stays  though  thou 
go,  and  he  will  have  thy  mother  in  his  keeping. 
Oh,  my  child,  't  is  a  hard  blow  to  me  that  her  illness 
keeps  me  here,  and  doth  compel  me  to  let  thee  set 
out  thus  alone  on  seas  stormier  than  you  in  your 
ignorance  can  foresee." 

"  But,  father,  't  is  with  the  good  Captain." 

"  Ay,  child,  thou  hast  said,  —  the  good  Captain 
be  thy  pilot !  " 

220 


Penelope's  Pilgrimage. 

"Sorry  am  I  to  break  in  upon  your  parting,  Col 
onel,"  said  Captain  Bennett's  voice,  •*  but  the  tide 
serves,  and  we  must  be  hoisting  anchor.  Mistress 
Payne's  chest  is  in  her  cabin,  and  my  wife  will  see 
to  it  that  she  lacks  nothing.  The  box  thou  art 
sending  to  Mr.  Pepys  is  also  safe  stowed  in  the 
hold.  Let  me  see  once  more ;  I  have  his  address, 
me  thinks,  writ  here."  So  saying,  he  drew  from  his 
wallet  the  slip,  from  which  he  read  aloud,  "Mr. 
Samuel  Pepys,  Seething  Lane,  Crutched  Friars, 
London." 

"  Ay,  't  is  the  right  place  unless  (which  God  fore- 
fend)  he  be  moved  away,  now  he  is  out  of  the  Navy 
Office.  I  doubt  not  he  will  receive  ye  kindly  ;  for 
though  he  was  sometimes  hasty,  he  was  ever  fond 
of  his  wife  and,  for  her  sake,  of  her  sister,  Pe 
nelope's  mother.  Mistress  Payne  hath  ne'er  seen 
her  sister  since  coming  to  America,  yet  was  the 
news  of  her  death  none  the  less  a  blow ;  for  out 
here  the  affections,  methinks,  do  but  cling  the 
closer  to  home  and  home-ties.  Penelope  hath 
more  of  her  aunt  than  her  mother  in  her,  which 
I  pray  may  touch  her  uncle's  heart.  Be  good 
to  my  maid,  Captain,  and  may  Heaven  reward 
you ! " 

The  good  Captain  blinked  hard;  then  he  stretched 
forth  his  hand  heartily. 

221 


White  Aprons. 

"  She  shall  be  as  mine  own,  Colonel." 

The  two  men  gripped  hands,  then  Payne  turned 
to  his  daughter  and  gave  her  one  last  embrace. 
"  Thou  hast  the  petition  safe,  child  ?  " 

"  Ay,  father,  sewed  to  my  bodice." 

"And  thy  bag  of  gold  ?" 

"  Ay,  in  the  belt  around  my  waist." 

"Then  must  we  say  farewell;  but  promise  me 
that  whilst  thou  art  gone  thou  wilt  set  down,  day 
by  day,  all  that  passes,  that  if  ye  do  hear  of  a  ship 
coming  this  way  we  may  have  not  the  hurried 
words  of  a  last  moment,  but  the  free  record  of  each 
day's  thoughts  and  actions,  —  't  is  for  this  I  have 
given  thee  the  journal  I  brought  hither  at  my  first 
coming  out  of  England." 

"  I  fear  't  will  be  but  sorry  reading ;  but  what 
thou  bidst  me,  I  will  faithfully  perform  so  far  as 
in  me  lies." 

"  Thou  wast  ever  a  good  and  faithful  child." 

"  And,  father,  thou  wilt  in  turn  strive  to  send  me 
tidings  by  the  next  ship.  Remember  how  my 
heart  will  hang  on  thy  words." 

"  Trust  me,  —  I  will  not  forget ;  and  now,  — 
farewell !  " 

"  Farewell ! " 

"  Farewell ! " 

As  if  a  thousand  farewells  could  ever  speak 
222 


Penelope's  Pilgrimage. 

the  emotions  and  wishes  of  those  who  love  and 
part! 

Swiftly  down  the  sullen  river  dropped  the  black- 
hulled  ship.  On  the  wind-swept  wharf  a  gray- 
haired  man  stood  motionless,  watchjng  its  outlines 
grow  dim  and  disappear.  A  great  sob  swelled  in 
his  throat.  "  My  little  girl ! "  he  cried ;  "  my  little, 
little  girl !  " 


22.3 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

OVER   SEAS. 
Coelum  non  animam  mutant  qui  trans  mare  currunt. 

IT  often  comes  to  pass  that  an  ill  beginning 
makes  a  good  ending ;  and  so  it  proved  with 
Penelope's  journey.  No  sooner  was  the  ship 
"  White  Lady  "  outside  the  harbor  of  Chesapeake 
Bay  than  the  wind  shifted  from  easterly  to  westerly, 
and  a  favoring  gale  bore  her  so  swiftly  on  her 
way  that  Captain  Bennett  swore  a  good  round 
sailor's  oath  that 't  was  the  best  trip  he  had  known 
in  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

To  Penelope,  lying  with  closed  eyes  in  her 
berth,  all  space  and  time  seemed  but  one  dreary 
blank,  marked  off  by  the  tossing  of  the  ship  and 
the  beating  of  the  great  waves  against  her  side. 
Whenever  she  opened  her  eyes  she  seemed  to  see 
"  April  —  the  twenty-third  of  April !  "  written  in 
letters  of  fire  before  her  vision.  When  she  slept, 
her  starts  and  moans  were  pitiful  to  note ;  and 
when  she  woke  it  was  with  a  sigh,  as  of  one  who 
224 


Over  Seas. 

takes  up  anew  a  burden  well-nigh  too  heavy  for  the 
shoulders  that  must  bear  it. 

At  length,  one  night  after  thirty  days'  sailing,  the 
Captain's  wife,  whose  long  experience  at  sea  had 
compelled  her  to  be  somewhat  of  a  physician,  lack 
ing  other  medical  advice,  came  into  the  cabin  with 
a  sleeping  potion,  which  she  bade  Penelope  swal 
low,  saying,  "  One  good  night's  rest  must  thou 
have,  for  I  should  be  much  ashamed  to  show  thee 
as  thou  art  now  to  thine  uncle.  He  would  think 
we  had  brought  him  some  patient  from  a  Virginia 
hospital,  —  nay,  perchance  a  mad-house."  The 
softness  of  her  voice  more  than  atoned  for  the 
harshness  of  her  words,  and  with  a  sad  smile 
Penelope  sat  up  and  swallowed  the  draught,  which 
soon  took  such  effect  that  she  lay  back  upon  her 
pillow  and  fell  into  a  deep,  unconscious,  restful 
sleep,  which  lasted  far  into  the  morning.  When 
she  woke,  she  felt  herself  so  refreshed  that  she  was 
able  to  creep  on  deck,  where  to  her  great  joy  and 
bewilderment  she  saw  a  flock  of  land-birds  flying 
overhead  and  the  great  cliffs  of  England  looming 
up  in  the  blue  distance. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  for  any  with  English  blood 

in  their  veins  to  look  upon  those  cliffs  for  the  first 

time  without  a  deep  emotion.     'T  is  a  home-coming 

even  to  one  born  thousands  of  miles  away;  for 

15  225 


White  Aprons. 

this  little  island  is  the  homestead  of  the  race,  and 
rich  in  all  the  traditions  which  are  very  part  and 
parcel  of  the  lives  of  its  children.  As  Penelope 
looked  upon  its  still  distant  shores,  a  thousand 
recollections  of  tales  heard  in  childhood  at  her 
father's  knee  rose  in  her  mind,  and  for  an  instant 
blotted  out  the  insistency  of  her  private  trouble. 
To  the  soul  wearied  and  harassed  by  the  present 
there  is  no  balm  like  that  distilled  by  thoughts  of  the 
past.  Steeped  therein  our  little  lives  assume  more 
nearly  their  true  proportion,  and  unconsciously 
we  find  ourselves  less  at  war  with  Fate.  So  it 
proved  with  this  sorrowful  young  maid.  Sitting 
on  a  coil  of  rope  upon  the  deck,  with  both  arms  on 
the  rail  and  her  chin  propped  thereon,  she  drew  in 
deep  draughts  of  consolation  and  sustaining  power 
from  the  broad  seas  around  her  and  the  nearing 
shores  of  her  father's  old  home,  which  seemed  to 
stretch  out  arms  of  welcome  to  her  as  his  child,  and 
to  bid  her  take  courage,  for  that  she  was  coming 
not  among  aliens,  but  to  friends  and  kindred. 

In  spite  of  itself  youth  is  beguiled  and  cheated 
of  its  grief  by  the  passing  show ;  and  when  at  the 
end  of  another  day  the  "  White  Lady  "  had  come 
through  the  swelling  channel  and  threaded  her  way 
into  the  calm  waters  of  the  Thames,  Penelope  was 
absorbed  in  watching  the  new  life  about  her.  To 
226 


Over  Seas. 

her  eyes,  accustomed  to  the  broad  Virginia  rivers, 
this  muddy  stream,  filled  with  boats  of  every  sort 
and  size,  and  spanned  by  bridge  after  bridge, 
seemed  so  narrow  and  insignificant  that  she  could 
scarce  believe  it  was  the  same  Thames  which  had 
played  so  great  a  part  in  history,  borne  pageants 
on  its  bosom,  welcomed  queens,  and  wafted  great 
men  to  yonder  gate  of  London  Tower  which 
loomed  grim  above  them. 

The  grating  of  the  ship  against  her  pier,  the 
smell  of  tar  along  the  docks,  the  rude  song  of 
the  sailors,  "  How  !  How  !  Rum  below  !  "  as  they 
made  fast  the  ropes  which  bound  her  to  the  dock, 
the  rumbling  of  carts,  the  cries  of  the  Thames 
watermen,  and  that  strange  overwhelming  roar 
made  up  of  many  indistinguishable  sounds  and 
resembling  the  voice  of  some  live  creature,  at  last 
forced  upon  Penelope  the  consciousness  that  this 
was  London,  and  that  her  journey  of  three  thou 
sand  miles  was  come  to  an  end. 

As  the  full  realization  swept  over  her,  a  great 
weakness  and  trembling  came  upon  her ;  but  Mrs. 
Bennett,  whose  motherly  heart  yearned  tenderly 
over  the  girl  in  this  great  sorrow,  bade  her  be  of 
good  cheer,  for  that  she  and  Captain  Bennett  would 
never  leave  her  till  they  had  seen  her  safe  in  her 
uncle's  charge.  Yet  at  these  words  her  heart  failed 
227 


White  Aprons. 

her  still  more.  "  What,"  she  thought  "  if  this  Uncle 
Pepys  were  dead  (for  't  is  five  years  since  we  had 
word  of  him,  and  his  health  was  already  breaking 
then,  and  he  spake  of  himself  as  an  old  man  though 
scarce  forty),  —  what  if  he  believed  not  my  story, 
and  would  neither  consent  to  aid  nor  even  to  receive 
me  under  his  roof  ?  What  if  he  were  removed  to 
another  part  of  the  world  and  none  could  tell 
us  whither?  " 

All  of  this  speculating  of  poor  Penelope's  was 
as  idle  as  hoping  and  fearing  generally  are ;  for 
nothing  fell  out  according  to  her  foretelling. 
When  the  hackney  coach,  with  its  burden  of 
people  and  trunks  and  boxes  drew  up  before  the 
house  in  Seething  Lane,  Crutched  Friars,  not  far 
from  the  Tower  of  London,  Mr.  Pepys  was  found  to 
live  there,  and  came  down  bare-headed  to  the  coach 
with  a  bow  which  Mrs.  Bennett  judged  mighty  hand 
some,  considering  she  had  given  him  no  clew  as  to 
who  it  was  he  was  about  to  receive,  only  sent  in  word 
that  two  ladies  would  fain  speak  with  him  at  the 
door.  As  her  uncle  stood  thus  uncovered  by  the 
coach  window,  Penelope,  who  was  at  the  further 
side,  had  full  opportunity  to  study  him  while  her 
self  unobserved.  She  scanned  him  eagerly,  though 
her  heart  was  beating  so  hard  it  well-nigh  choked 
her,  and  a  sort  of  mist  gathered  before  her  eyes. 
228 


Over  Seas. 

What  she  saw  was  a  very  proper,  gentlemanlike 
person,  in  attire  which  to  her  provincial  eyes 
appeared  extraordinarily  fine,  being  of  drab- 
colored  camelot,  very  rich,  and  enlivened  by  a 
waistcoat  of  flowered  tabby  velvet.  His  hands 
were  very  white,  and  he  held  them  before  him  from 
time  to  time  as  though  he  loved  them,  and  found 
much  satisfaction  in  their  smooth  nails  and  taper 
ends.  His  face  was  large ;  so  large  that  the  ex 
pression  thereof  could  scarce  cover  so  vast  an 
expanse,  and  there  were  spaces  vacant  of  meaning. 
The  cheeks  bagged  somewhat  over  the  falling 
band  of  plaited  lawn,  and  the  nose  was  a  trifle  red 
and  swollen  at  the  end,  as  though  dipt  too  often 
in  Canary.  But  as  if  to  balance  these  defects,  the 
forehead  was  both  smooth  and  high  under  the 
curls  of  the  wig,  and  the  eyes  twinkled  with  good 
sense  and  good  humor. 

"  I  bid  you  welcome,  ladies,"  he  said  graciously, 
as  he  assisted  Mrs.  Bennett  and  her  charge  to 
alight ;  which  was  surely  gracious  since  he  knew 
not  yet  who  they  were. 

When  they  had  come  in  and  sat  down  in  the 
withdrawing  room,  Mrs.  Bennett  drew  forth  the 
letter  from  Colonel  Payne  and  bade  Mr.  Pepys 
read  it,  that  he  might  discover  for  himself  the  rea 
son  and  the  purport  of  this  intrusion. 
229 


White  Aprons. 

Taking  the  packet  with  another  handsome  bow, 
he  answered,  "  By  your  leave,  ladies,  I  will  with 
draw  to  my  study  while  I  read  this,  for  mine 
eyes  are  growing  weak,  and  the  light  of  candles  at 
the  play  last  night  went  near  to  put  them  quite  out. 
I  must  therefore  seek  aid  from  my  eye-tubes  to 
make  this  writing  plain." 

Scarce  had  he  left  the  room  ere  Mrs.  Bennett 
burst  forth  in  his  praises.  "A  proper  man,  my 
dear,  a  very  proper  man,  —  as  fine  a  suit  as  I  e'er 
saw  yet,  and  Captain  Bennett  hath  touched  at 
thirty-seven  ports  since  we  were  married.  I  doubt 
not  his  heart  is  as  good  as  his  legs, — and  they  would 
do  credit  to  any  man.  Yes,  good  legs  bespeak  the 
gentleman.  I  am  glad  he  is  a  gentleman.  I  could 
ne'er  have  borne  to  leave  thee  with  one  who  was 
less." 

Thus  the  good  woman  ran  on  in  that  belief  cher 
ished  by  so  many  that  people  in  trouble  must  be 
talked  to  without  ceasing,  as  those  in  danger  of 
freezing  are  walked  up  and  down. 

For  the  moment  Penelope  was  far  more  con 
cerned  to  know  what  Mr.  Pepys  thought  of  her 
than  what  she  thought  of  him,  and  she  was  mightily 
uneasy  in  her  mind  till  his  return.  But  his  smile, 
as  he  re-entered  the  room,  did  much  to  reassure 
her ;  and  coming  up  very  kind,  he  took  her  hand, 
230 


Over  Seas. 

and,  looking  at  her  close,  he  said  :  "  So  this  is  the 
child  of  Theophilus  Payne,  and  my  wife's  half- 
sister  Alice.  And  your  name  is  Penelope  ?  Well, 
Mistress  Penelope,  I  am  mightily  pleased  to  see 
you,  and  I  will  do  what  I  can  for  you,  as  your 
father  desires.  I  fear  't  will  be  but  little  I  can  do, 
for  Samuel  Pepys  is  sadly  out  of  favor  at  court;  but 
for  my  wife's  sake  I  will  make  the  trial.  Mean 
while,  have  in  the  chests,  and  I  will  bid  Betty  set 
in  order  a  chamber  for  your  reception ;  for  since 
the  death  of  my  wife  the  blinds  have  scarce  been 
opened  over  half  the  house.  I  count  it  ill  done 
that  the  sun  should  fade  the  furniture  when  there 
be  none  to  tread  thereon,  and  the  hangings  in  this 
room  alone  did  cost  me  three  pound  six." 

"  I  make  you  my  compliments,  Mr.  Pepys,  on 
your  economy  and  good  management,"  said  Mrs. 
Bennett.  "  But  can  it  be  that  ye  are  your  own 
housekeeper  ?  "  Under  all  her  simplicity  the  Cap 
tain's  wife  was  a  woman  of  much  shrewdness  and 
knowledge  of  the  world,  and  she  hoped  to  find 
some  older  woman  than  the  apple-cheeked  maid 
who  had  opened  the  door,  in  charge  of  the  house 
hold.  Great,  therefore,  was  her  relief  of  mind 
when  Mr.  Pepys  answered,  "  No ;  I  do  keep  a 
housekeeper,  one  Mrs.  Fane,  who  will  be  in  some 
sort  of  charge  of  this  young  lady.  I  do  not  believe 
231 


White  Aprons. 

that  a  more  knowing,  faithful,  or  vigilant  person,  or 
a  stricter  keeper  at  home  (which  to  me  is  a  great 
addition),  —  a  person  more  useful  in  sickness  as 
well  as  health,  —  can  be  found  anywhere.  As  such 
I  do  much  esteem  her,  and  should  long  desire  her 
neighborhood."  This  he  said  in  a  full,  round  voice, 
which  might  well  have  reached  to  the  housekeeper's 
room  ;  then,  in  a  tone  judiciously  lowered,  he  added, 
"  But  she  hath  a  height  of  spirit,  captiousness  of 
humor,  and  noise  of  tongue,  that  of  all  womankind 
I  have  hitherto  had  to  do  withal  do  render  her  con 
versation  and  comportment  most  insupportable." 

"  Poor  Penelope !  "  whispered  Mrs.  Bennett. 
"Yet  fear  not;  thou,  if  any,  canst  win  her  over, 
and  after  all,  't  is  for  the  best  —  oh,  yes,  decidedly 
for  the  best,  my  dear  —  I  would  not  have  had  it 
otherwise." 

Poor  Penelope  indeed !  Never  had  she  felt  her 
heart  so  cling  to  the  good  Captain,  and  even  to 
his  talkative  wife,  as  now  when  they  rose  to  take 
leave. 

"  Cheer  up,  my  maid,"  said  the  Captain,  in  a 
low  voice,  shaking  out  his  colored  handkerchief 
and  blowing  his  nose  that  he  might  find  excuse  for 
wiping  his  eyes ;  "  remember  that  the  '  White  Lady  * 
lies  at  the  dock  yonder,  and  you  have  friends  there, 
should  all  others  fail  you." 
232 


Over  Seas. 

Penelope  pressed  his  big,  strong  hand,  but  could 
trust  her  voice  to  utter  no  word,  either  to  him  or  to 
his  wife,  as  she  tenderly  embraced  her. 

At  last  the  parting  was  over,  and  Penelope  had 
climbed  the  stairs  and  found  herself  in  a  pretty 
chamber  with  an  overhanging  window  looking  out 
upon  the  busy  street,  —  a  window  whose  tiny  dia 
mond  panes  were  set  in  sashes  of  stout  oaken 
wood.  The  bed  was  covered  with  a  spread  of 
Indian  chintz,  which,  as  Betty  was  at  pains  to  in 
form  her  visitor,  was  made  out  of  the  gown  worn 
by  Mistress  Pepys  at  the  celebration  in  honor  of 
the  coming  of  Queen  Catherine  from  Spain  and 
her  entrance  into  London.  Out  of  the  chamber 
opened  one  still  smaller,  scarce  more  than  a  closet, 
wherein  a  cot  was  made  for  Dolly,  whose  black 
skin  and  gorgeous  turban  half  terrified  and  wholly 
amazed  the  lively  Betty. 

When  Penelope  had  smoothed  her  hair  and 
bathed  her  red  eyes  with  lavender  water,  that  she 
might  not  offend  her  uncle's  sight  with  the  traces 
of  her  grief  (for  instinct  told  her  that  he  was  one 
more  like  to  be  moved  by  charm  than  by  pathos), 
she  bade  the  maids  uncord  her  chest. 

"  At  what  hour  does  my  uncle  dine  ?  "  she  asked 
of  Betty,  who  answered : 

"  At  three  at  this  time  o'  year,  to  save  candles ; 

233 


White  Aprons. 

but  he  bade  me  say  't  was  put  off  till  four  to-day 
that  you  might  have  time  to  make  ready." 

"  Alas !  "  thought  Penelope,  "  I  never  counted 
on  this,  and  I  know  not  what  gown  to  don.  Mine 
uncle  dines  alone  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Mistress,  all  alone." 

"  Then,  Dolly,  lay  out  the  puce-colored  damask 
with  the  white  cuffs  and  the  muslin  whisk.  Nay, 
nay,"  she  added,  as  Dolly  strove  to  tempt  her  by 
holding  up  a  flowered  brocade  with  cramoisie 
stomacher.  "  The  sad  heart  cannot  brook  going 
gayly  clad.  I  must  crave  mine  uncle's  patience 
with  my  soberness  without  and  within." 

When  she  was  dressed,  finding  that  it  wanted 
still  a  half-hour  of  dinner-time,  she  set  herself  to 
making  her  room  more  home-like  by  setting  out 
upon  the  table  her  little  worn  Bible,  the  journal 
wherein  her  father  had  bade  her  write,  and  the 
miniature  of  her  mother  close  by  the  bed,  that  her 
eye  might  rest  on  it  the  last  thing  at  night  and  the 
first  in  the  morning.  Then,  summoning  all  her 
resolution,  she  passed  out  at  the  low  door,  and 
down  the  winding  stair  into  the  study,  where  her 
uncle  had  bade  her  seek  him. 

At  the  moment  she  entered  Betty  announced  the 
serving  of  dinner,  and  her  uncle  conducted  her 
with  much  ceremony  to  the  dining-room.  Little 

234 


Over  Seas. 

zest  had  Penelope  for  the  feast  which  had  been 
prepared  in  honor  of  her  arrival.  The  pullets,  the 
dish  of  marrow,  the  pasty  of  larks,  and  the  prawns 
and  cheese  over  which  her  uncle  smacked  his  lips, 
were  but  sawdust  to  her  taste,  though  she  strove  to 
swallow  something,  that  Mr.  Pepys  might  not  think 
her  ungrateful  for  the  honor  done  her ;  but  she  soon 
discovered  that  the  dinner  was  ordered  as  much 
for  his  own  gratification  as  for  hers.  The  rich 
dishes  put  him  in  excellent  humor,  and  as  he  sipped 
his  pale  ale  his  soul  expanded  into  confidence. 
"  Yes,"  he  said,  leaning  back,  that  his  digestion 
might  have  the  more  room,  —  "  yes,  you  do  be  of  a 
surety  mightily  like  to  your  aunt  as  she  was  when 
I  married  her,  and  if  your  eyes  belie  you  not  you 
have  a  temper  very  like  also.  Nay,  color  not  with 
vexation  !  —  a  temper  is  not  so  bad  a  thing  in  a 
handsome  woman.  Your  aunt  was  a  good  soul  for 
all  hers.  She  is  a  great  loss  to  me." 

"  Ay,  uncle,"  answered  Penelope,  swift  tears  of 
sympathy  springing  to  her  eyes  as  she  thought  of 
his  loneliness,  "  I  can  well  credit  it." 

"  Yes,"  he  continued,  "  there  be  none  can  cook 
a  pasty  like  her ;  and  for  the  preparing  of  marrow 
bones,  Betty  is  a  fool  beside  her.  This  dish  to 
night  was  spoiled." 

For  the  first  time   in  a  month   Penelope   was 

235 


White  Aprons. 

inclined  to  smile  at  the  ending  of  this  speech,  so 
different  to  that  on  which  she  had  counted;  but 
she  strove  to  keep  a  grave  face,  and  replied  :  "  Per 
haps  the  fault  lies  in  thine  indisposition,  since  all 
do  seem  to  me  excellent  well  prepared,  and  most 
orderly  set  out ;  and  sure  no  serving-maid  could  be 
defter  than  Betty." 

"  Betty  ?  —  oh,  she  is  well  enough,  but  not  to  hold 
a  candle  to  Deb.  Now  there  was  a  wench  —  but 
that  is  an  old  tale  and  not  meet  for  young  ears." 

"  Well,  Uncle  Pepys,"  said  Penelope,  not  know 
ing  how  to  take  the  turn  of  the  talk,  "if  it  please 
you  to  tempt  your  appetite  with  variety,  I  would  be 
right  glad  to  try  a  new  dish  for  thy  breakfast,  —  a 
hoe-cake,  such  as  the  black  servants  at  home  do 
make  of  the  Indian  corn  and  bake  in  the  ashes." 

"  I  do  perceive  that  thou  art  a  clever  lass," 
answered  Mr.  Pepys,  with  more  heartiness  than  he 
had  yet  shown,  and  bestowing  a  pinch  on  the  ear, 
—  a  salute  which  marked  his  special  approbation. 
But  he  said  little  more,  and  very  soon  lighted  her 
candle  and  bade  her  get  to  bed,  that  she  might  not 
miss  her  beauty  sleep. 

When  Penelope  had  retired  for  the  night,  having 
put  out  her  candle  and  said  her  prayers  on  her 
knees,  like  the  pious  girl  she  was,  she  fell  to  think 
ing  of  the  events  of  the  day,  and  felt  that  she  had 

236 


Over  Seas. 

much  to  be  thankful  for  in  having  found  a  safe 
shelter  and  a  kind  reception.  She  was,  it  is  true, 
disappointed  that  her  uncle  had  not  seen  fit  to 
open  the  subject  of  her  mission,  but  she  saw,  or 
thought  she  saw  in  him,  a  vein  of  diplomacy,  and 
a  disposition  to  reach  home  by  the  longest  way 
round  for  the  mere  pleasure  of  the  journeying. 
"  He  is  fain  to  study  me,"  she  thought,  "  that  he 
may  know  how  much  of  weight  he  may  hang  on 
my  story,"  —  which,  to  my  thinking,  was  rather 
shrewd  for  a  little  colonial  maiden  but  one  day  in 
London. 


237 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE    LIONS    OF    LONDON. 
"  An  exact  diary  is  a  window  into  his  heart  that  maketh  it." 

FEBRUARY  y  14  (Lord's  Day)  up  and  to 
church  with  mine  uncle,  but  my  hart  was 
too  hevvy  to  pay  much  heed  to  the  discoarse." 

Let  not  the  highly  educated  young  woman  of 
the  nineteenth  century  mock  at  this,  the  first  entry 
in  Penelope  Payne's  diurnal,  —  a  little  worn,  brown- 
covered  book,  which  to-day  lies  in  the  closet  of  an 
old  Virginia  country  house.  The  maiden  who 
traced  the  faint  and  often  illegible  lines  had  never 
known  the  guidance  of  dictionary  or  grammar,  but 
her  heart  was  as  true  as  though  she  had  spelled  it 
with  an  "  e  "  instead  of  without,  and  on  that  Lord's 
Day  morning,  in  the  year  1677,  no  fairer  face 
looked  out  from  beneath  its  bonnet  on  an  untried 
world. 

The  church  to  which  they  bent  their  steps  was 
St.  Olave's,  hard  by  Mr.  Pepys's  house  in  Seething 
238 


The  Lions  of  London. 

Lane ;  and  when  the  service  was  done,  her  uncle 
took  Penelope  by  boat  to  St.  Margaret's  at  Westmin 
ster,  that  she  might  see  the  marriage  certificate  of 
"  Samuel  Pepys  of  this  parish,  Gent  &  Elizabeth 
De  St.  Michel  of  Martins  in  the  ffields,  spinster." 
Penelope  remembered  the  charming,  pouting,  smil 
ing  face  in  the  miniature  at  home,  and  sighed.  To 
youth  the  dead  seem  to  have  been  always  dead, 
and  it  is  with  a  shock  that  it  comes  upon  such 
tokens  that  they,  too,  once  moved  and  loved,  and 
suffered,  as  full  of  life  as  itself. 

To  while  away  the  time  till  dinner  should  be 
ready,  Pepys  and  his  niece  next  betook  them 
selves  to  the  Abbey,  where  Penelope's  awe  greatly 
amused  good  Mr.  Pepys,  who  never  felt  awe  at 
anything.  Even  now,  as  they  stood  before  a  richly 
carved  tomb,  he  chuckled  to  himself,  —  "  Look,"  he 
said,  "It  is  the  tomb  of  Queen  Catherine  of 
Valois.  You  must  know,  niece,  that  some  years 
ago  I  chanced  to  be  in  the  Abbey  when  they 
were  opening  the  coffin  of  this  queen,  and,  as  I 
was  requested  to  hold  the  head,  I  did  kiss  her 
mouth,  reflecting  upon  it  that  it  was  my  birthday, 
thirty-six  years  old,  that  I  did  first  kiss  a  queen." 

Penelope  could  scarcely  restrain  a  shudder.  As 
she  turned  away  her  head  in  the  effort  to  hide  a 
sudden  wave  of  repulsion,  she  noticed  a  gentleman 

239 


White  Aprons. 

on  the  other  side  of  the  aisle  bowing  to  her  uncle ; 
but  he  having  left  his  eye-tubes  at  home  took  no 
note  of  him. 

"  See,  uncle,"  she  whispered,  "  some  one  yonder 
is  nodding  and  smiling  at  us." 

At  the  words  Mr.  Pepys  puckered  up  his  eyes  as 
if  hoping  thus  to  screw  them  into  focus,  and  then 
of  a  sudden  cried  out:  "A  pox  upon  me  if  it  be 
not  Mr.  Dryden  !  " 

At  this  a  mighty  wonder  fell  upon  Penelope,  and 
a  deeper  awe  than  the  arches  of  the  Abbey  had 
struck  into  her  heart ;  for  the  fame  of  the  poet  had 
crossed  the  seas,  and  she  had  heard  her  father  say 
he  had  rather  meet  the  great  Mr.  Dryden  than 
any  man  in  England,  —  except,  of  course,  His 
Majesty.  So  overcome  was  Penelope,  therefore, 
at  this  encounter  that  she  could  find  no  fitting 
words  to  speak  when  her  uncle  presented  her  as 
his  little  savage  from  the  western  wilderness  of 
Virginia.  Perhaps  if  she  had  not  known  he  was  a 
genius,  she  might  not  have  admired  this  sallow  face 
with  its  long  nose  and  thick  lips,  and  least  of  all 
the  brown  warts  which  stood  out  from  his  cheek  like 
toadstools  ;  but  it  was  the  face  of  Mr.  Dryden,  and 
that  was  enough. 

He  held  some  jesting  talk  with  Mr.  Pepys,  ask 
ing  him  if  he  was  come  hither  to  seek  convivial 
240 


The  Lions  of  London. 

companionship  in  the  tombs  because  the  coffee 
houses  were  closed  by  the  King's  orders  ;  to  which 
Mr.  Pepys  made  neat  answer,  that  he  had  oft  met 
with  men  dead  drunk,  but  never  any  drunk  dead. 

"Ah,  Mr.  Pepys,"  said  the  poet,  offering  his 
snuff-box,  which  was  of  carved  ivory  rimmed  with 
gold,  and  half  shutting  his  eyes,  as  was  his  wont 
when  he  talked,  "ye  have  a  lively  wit  and  a 
ready  tongue.  For  me,  my  conversation  is  slow 
and  dull,  my  humor  saturnine  and  reserved.  I 
know  not  how  in  conversation  to  break  a  jest  or 
frame  a  repartee." 

"Nay,  that  is  but  natural,"  answered  Pepys, 
striving  to  conceal  his  gratified  vanity.  "  Your 
mind  is  filled  with  gold  pieces,  stamped  with  the 
image  of  the  Sovereign ;  but  mine  is  taken  up  with 
small  change,  which  doth  drop  more  jinglingly  from 
the  tongue,  yet,  taken  all  together,  hath  naught  to 
be  compared,  in  value,  with  one  word  of  yours." 

"  Mr.  Pepys,  you  do  me  too  much  honor," 
answered  his  companion;  and  then,  after  some 
moments  of  idle  and  profitless  discourse,  bowing 
and  scraping  like  two  dancing  masters,  they  parted 

"  How  dull  his  talk  is  for  a  great  man  !  "  whis 
pered  Penelope,  when  Mr.  Dryden  was  out  of 
hearing.  «'  To  my  thinking,  you  were  the  better  of 
the  two." 

16  241 


White  Aprons. 

"  My  dear,"  said  Pepys,  "  the  man  will  never 
waste  a  clever  speech  by  giving  it  away  with  his 
tongue  when  his  pen  can  sell  it  for  sixpence. 
Poets  cannot  afford  clever  talk.  To  measure  a 
great  man,  you  must  use  the  yardstick  of  his  public 
work,  not  his  private  walk  and  conversation." 

Penelope  was  destined  to  repent  her  harsh  judg 
ment  ;  for  that  afternoon  when  dinner  was  finished, 
Betty,  the  maid,  came  in  fetching  a  bottle  of 
wine  for  Mr.  Pepys,  and  for  his  niece  a  present  of 
a  starling  in  a  gilded  cage,  together  with  a  billet 
tied  with  a  blue  ribbon,  wherein,  when  it  was 
opened,  were  two  stanzas  signed  with  the  name  of 
John  Dryden,  and  addressed 

"To  THE  FAIR  STRANGER." 
And  thus  they  ran : 

"  Your  smiles  have  more  of  conquering  charms 
Than  all  your  native  country  arms. 
Their  troops  we  can  repel  with  ease, 
Who  vanquish  only  when  we  please. 

"  But  in  your  eyes  —  Oh,  there  's  the  spell. 
Who  can  see  them  and  not  rebel  ? 
You  make  us  captives  by  your  stay, 
Yet  kill  us  if  you  go  away." 

Penelope's  heart  fluttered  like  the  starling  in  her 
hand.     The  reference  to  the  rebellion  in  Virginia 
242 


The  Lions  of  London. 

in  the  first  verse  was  almost  too  much  for  her 
firmness.  The  writer  little  knew  on  how  sore  a 
wound  his  light  words  would  fall,  and,  for  the  flat 
tering  lines  to  herself,  it  was  past  her  power  to 
comprehend  them,  and  she  handed  them  over  to 
her  uncle,  who  looked  first  at  the  wine,  then  at  the 
bird,  then  at  the  verses,  and  at  length  burst  out 
a-laughing. 

"  Faith,"  said  he,  "  I  had  quite  forgot  'twas  Val 
entine's  Day.  Pretty  well,  Mistress  Pen,  for  your 
first  week  in  London !  The  laureate  of  England,  it 
seems,  would  fain  have  thee  for  his  Valentine,  and 
this  bottle  of  old  Madeira  is  for  the  go-between, 
Samuel  Pepys." 

With  this  he  fell  a-laughing  again,  till  poor  Pe 
nelope,  blushing  and  quite  overcome,  ran  away  to 
her  chamber  with  her  bird  and  her  billet.  Sooth 
to  say,  so  untaught  was  her  mind  that  the  verses 
seemed  to  her  a  little  —  just  a  little  —  silly,  though 
she  would  never  have  owned  as  much.  For  the 
starling,  he  was  both  a  joy  and  a  sorrow,  since  he 
put  her  in  mind  of  the  dear  woods  at  home,  full  of 
feathered  songsters,  and  also  —  alas  !  —  of  another 
poor  prisoner  behind  iron  bars. 

The  next  morning  she  woke  to  the  blithe  note  of 
the  bird  and  a  room  flooded  with  sunshine,  and 
something  of  the  blitheness  and  the  brightness 

243 


White  Aprons. 

found  their  way  to  her  sad  heart ;  so  it  was  with 
a  lighter  heart  than  she  had  yet  borne  that  she 
entered  the  breakfast-room. 

"  Give  you  good  morrow,"  said  her  uncle.  "  Have 
ye  forgot  the  hoe-cake  ye  did  promise  to  bake  for 
my  breakfast?" 

"  Nay,  dear  Uncle,"  answered  Penelope ;  "  Betty 
has  ground  the  corn  to  meal  in  the  hand-mill  and 
Dolly  is  even  now  a-mixing  of  it,  and  if  you  wish 
I  will  bake  it  here  before  the  fire  on  a  board,  that 
ye  may  see  how  we  do  prepare  it  in  Virginia." 

Dolly  appeared  at  the  door  shortly,  with  a  pan  of 
dough  made  from  the  yellow  meal,  and  Penelope, 
taking  it  from  her  hand,  set  it  before  the  blazing 
fire.  As  she  knelt  thus  with  her  back  to  the  room, 
she  was  startled  to  catch  of  a  sudden  the  sound  of 
a  stranger's  voice. 

"Good  morrow,  Mr.  Pepys,"  said  the  voice. 
"  Look  not  so  amazed  to  see  me  abroad  thus  early. 
I  own  my  repute  for  idleness  doth  warrant  some 
surprise  at  such  unwonted  hours,  but  I  did  much 
desire  to  see  you  on  the  matter  of  a  navy  record 
which  closely  toucheth  mine  affairs.  The  maid 
told  me  I  should  find  you  alone."  At  this  instant 
he  became  aware  of  the  presence  of  Penelope, 
who  had  turned  about,  blushing  with  shame,  to  be 
caught  thus  with  her  hair  ruffled,  her  sleeves  rolled 
244 


The  Lions  of  London. 

back  to  the  elbow,  and  her  face  red  with  the  heat 
of  the  fire. 

As  she  lifted  her  eyes  they  fell  upon  a  gallant 
whose  every  movement  and  gesture  proclaimed  the 
Court.  His  presence  seemed  to  fill  the  little  room ; 
and  as  the  sunlight  flashed  upon  the  shoe-buckles 
set  with  brilliants,  and  the  single  amethyst  which 
formed  the  cover  of  his  pouncet-box,  he  looked  for 
all  the  world  like  the  prince  in  a  fairy-tale.  His 
eyes  were  half -closed,  as  though  he  saw  nothing  in 
the  world  worth  opening  them  for;  but  between 
their  lids  glittered  a  line  of  light  which  made  their 
laziness  a  perjury.  The  face  was  a  delicate  oval, 
the  nose  somewhat  over-large  but  well  formed,  like 
the  lips  beneath  it,  which  were  partly  covered  by 
a  streak  of  mustachio  so  flat,  so  straight,  and  so 
black  that  it  put  Penelope  in  mind  of  the  strips  of 
sticking-plaster  which  Lady  Berkeley  wore  in  the 
shape  of  a  bow  on  her  cheek  at  the  Governor's 
Ball. 

The  girl  stood  still  looking  upon  him,  attracted 
by  his  beauty,  yet  repelled  by  a  certain  something 
(she  herself  could  scarce  have  said  what)  which 
underlay  all  this  grace  and  elegance. 

The  unannounced  visitor  stood  still  likewise, 
staring  hard  at  Penelope ;  then  bursting  into  a 
noisy  and  insolent  laugh,  he  lunged  forward  and 

245 


White  Aprons. 

cried  out  to  the  master  of  the  house,  giving  him 
at  the  same  time  a  prodigious  dig  in  the  ribs  with 
his  bejewelled  knuckles,  "  Pepys,  ye  old  sinner, 
whom  have  ye  in  hiding  here  ? " 

Mr.  Pepys  crinkled  up  his  puffy  eyes  and  pursed 
up  his  mouth  as  if  he  were  about  to  burst  into  a 
loud  haw-haw ;  but  catching  his  niece's  look  of 
mingled  indignation  and  surprise,  he  drew  him 
self  up  and  answered  with  something  very  near 
dignity :  — 

"  Your  merriment,  my  Lord,  is  ill-timed,  and  you 
are  to  seek  in  respect.  This  lady  is  Mistress  Pe 
nelope  Payne,  niece  to  my  late  wife,  and  but  recently 
come  hither  from  Virginia  to  try  if  she  may  secure 
the  King's  pardon  for  one  apprehended  in  arms 
under  Bacon,  —  a  friend  of  her  father,  and  one 
that  hath  done  him  great  service ;  by  name,  Bryan 
Fairfax." 

"  How,  a  Fairfax ! "  cried  the  guest,  as  if  glad 
of  an  occasion  to  turn  the  subject  of  talk.  "  Be 
like  't  is  some  cousin  of  my  wife ;  for  of  all  the  sons 
of  Adam,  I  dare  be  sworn  more  than  half  do  bear 
her  name.  I  must  look  into  the  matter;  and  mean 
while  may  I  crave  the  honor  of  being  presented  to 
Mistress  Payne?" 

His  manner  was  now  so  different  from  that  with 
which  he  first  spoke  that  Penelope  could  scarcely 
246 


The  Lions  of  London. 

believe  it  was  the  same  man;  but  her  uncle  called 
her  to  his  side :  "  Niece,"  he  said,  "  I  would  have 
thee  acquainted  with  a  great  gentleman  of  the 
Court,  His  Grace,  the  Duke  of  Buckingham." 

Penelope  courtesied  as  low  as  she  dared  on  the 
slippery  floor,  but  her  soul  was  too  set  on  its  pur 
pose  to  lend  aught  of  timidity  to  her  manner. 

"  Of  the  Court,  saidst  thou,  uncle  ?  "  she  repeated 
with  an  innocent,  childlike  upward  gaze,  wide-eyed 
and  trustful.  "  Then  perchance  he  will  tell  us  how 
best  to  reach  the  ear  of  His  Majesty." 

Again  the  stranger  fell  a-laughing,  but  with 
more  softness  and  civility  than  before.  "Ye 
must  know,  young  lady,"  he  said,  stroking 
back  with  his  long  fingers  the  lace  about  his 
wrists,  lace  so  old  and  rare  that  it  could  only 
have  been  found  among  the  looted  treasures  of 
some  convent,  — "  ye  must  know  that  I  am  but 
recently  come  from  a  retirement  of  some  months' 
duration  in  the  sequestered  shade  of  London 
Tower,  where  if  I  would  have  communicated  with 
the  King  I  must  needs  have  done  it  through  the 
gentleman  usher  of  the  Black  Rod.  Truth  to 
tell,"  he  added,  speaking  to  Pepys  rather  than  to 
his  niece,  "  my  present  favor  with  His  Majesty 
is  like  a  basket  of  eggs,  and  must  be  carried  with 
nicety  else  all  is  spoiled.  So  far  from  seeking 
247 


White  Aprons. 

any  boon,  my  one  thought  by  night  and  by  day  is 
how  I  may  do  the  King  some  service  or  secure 
him  some  new  diversion." 

At  this  he  broke  off  and  stared  at  Penelope  till 
her  cheeks  began  to  wax  hot ;  then  of  a  sudden  he 
continued  :  "  Pepys,  I  see  a  light,  —  I  see  a  light. 
The  King  holds  Court  at  Whitehall  soon.1' 

"  Ay,"  answered  Pepys,  "  but  I  am  little  like 
to  profit  by  that,  for  I  have  writ  thrice  begging 
the  privilege  to  come  kiss  the  royal  hand,  and 
each  time  the  answer  is  *  Not  yet.'" 

"  Why,  then,  we  are  both  in  the  same  boat ;  yet 
if  Beauty  guides  the  helm  't  is  not  impossible  we 
may  both  sail  full  into  the  eye  of  the  King's 
favor." 

At  this  he  turned  and  made  Penelope  another 
bow,  so  low  that  the  powder  from  his  enormous 
periwig  whitened  the  floor.  Her  uncle  too  turned, 
and  seemed  to  study  her  with  attention.  Then 
he  shook  his  head,  —  "  Nay,"  said  he,  "we  covet 
not  the  honors  of  the  house  of  Castlemaine.  There 
be  some  royal  favors  bought  too  dear." 

"  Trust  me,"  quoth  the  Duke ;  "  I  mean  naught 
of  that  sort,  but  only  that  by  helping  this  fair 
damsel  in  distress  I  might  help  mine  own  cause  as 
well,  —  and  for  the  matter  o'  that,  if  the  pardon  be 
for  a  Fairfax,  't  is  a  family  cause  I  do  espouse." 
248 


The  Lions  of  London* 

Mr.  Pepys  looked  but  half  convinced,  but  the 
Duke  rattled  on  as  though  all  were  settled.  "  I  will 
see  to  it  sure  that  you  receive  a  mandate  to  bring 
your  fair  niece  to  Court,  and  then  her  own  elo 
quence  must  do  the  rest,  though  I  do  heartily  proffer 
her  my  poor  services." 

"  I  trust,"  he  added,  with  a  languishing  glance 
out  of  his  sleepy  eyes  at  Penelope,  "  that  as  you 
have  been  so  short  a  time  in  this  country  no 
man  has  been  before  me  to  claim  you  as  a 
valentine,  and  that  this  felicity  and  favor  may 
fall  upon  me." 

"  I  most  humbly  thank  your  Grace,"  said  Pe 
nelope,  courtesying  once  more,  "  but  yesterday  Mr. 
Dryden  did  me  the  honor  to  ask  the  same." 

"  So,  so,"  laughed  his  Grace,  yet  with  a  little 
testiness,  "  Master  John  is  in  the  field  a'ready, 
is  he  ?  By  the  Lord,  't  will  be  fine  sport  to  have 
him  for  a  rival,  for  he  hateth  me  roundly,  as  I  hear." 

"  For  what  cause,  my  Lord  ?  " 

"  Why,  you  must  know  that  the  poet  is  as  thin- 
skinned  as  a  new-born  lamb,  and  doth  shiver  if  the 
slightest  breath  of  ridicule  blow  on  him.  Well, 
one  night  at  the  Haymarket  I  chanced  to  sit  in  the 
box  near  the  stage  when  one  of  his  plays  was  on. 
Nell  Gwynne  (or  Madam  Ellen,  as  the  King  bids 
her  be  called  now)  was  a-spouting  in  her  best 
249 


White  Aprons. 

manner,  with  a  prodigious  deal  of  tragedy,  clapping 
her  hand  to  her  heart,  which  she  had  iust  pretended 
to  pierce  with  a  bodkin,  this  touching  line,  — 

M  '  My  wound  is  great  because  it  is  so  small.' 

"  The  occasion  was  too  fair,  and  not  to  be  re 
sisted  ;  so,  rising  in  my  place  and  rolling  my  eyes 
as  far  upward  as  hers,  I  cried  out,  — 

" '  Then  't  would  be  greater  were  it  none  at  all  I ? 

"  The  pit  roared,  and  the  house  was  set  in  such  a 
commotion  of  merriment  that  the  manager  was 
forced  to  draw  the  curtain,  and  the  play  hath  never 
since  been  set  on." 

"  Faith,"  quoth  Pepys,  laughing,  as  none  could 
help,  so  droll  was  the  burlesque  of  his  imitation, 
"methinks  a  less  peevish  poet  than  Mr.  Dryden 
might  be  vext  to  see  his  lines  so  rendered  before 
his  eyes.  But  now  we  will  to  our  business,  — 
these  navy  records,  touching  which  I  have  twice 
this  week  writ  the  Duke  of  York." 

Perceiving  that  her  uncle  wished  to  be  left 
alone  with  his  visitor,  Penelope  withdrew  to  the 
study,  where,  in  the  deep  window-seat  behind  the 
curtain,  occupying  her  fingers  over  a  piece  of  tapes 
try,  she  strove  to  stitch  away  the  tumult  of  her 
grief  and  anxiety.  Betty  brought  her  breakfast  on 
250 


The  Lions  of  London. 

a  tray;  but  the  hoe-cake  was  burned  to  a  crisp,  and 
Penelope  could  have  wept,  while  her  cheeks  were 
hot  with  blushes,  fearing  her  uncle  and  the  Duke 
had  made  merry  over  Virginia  fare. 

An  hour  or  more  slipped  away.  She  heard  her 
uncle  enter  and  begin  to  busy  himself  over  his 
papers;  but  her  thoughts  were  three  thousand 
miles  away,  and  she  heeded  him  not,  nor  yet  the 
opening  of  the  door,  nor  the  maid's  announcement 
of  "  Mr.  John  Dryden." 

She  was  gathering  her  stitchery  and  working 
materials  and  making  ready  to  come  forward  ;  but 
before  she  appeared,  the  gentleman  remarked  that 
he  was  come  to  inquire  after  his  valentine,  and 
straightway  launched  into  such  a  eulogy  as  brought 
the  blushes  thick  and  fast  to  Penelope's  cheek. 

She  had  no  courage  now  to  present  herself,  and 
was  forced  to  tarry,  eavesdropping.  She  could  tell 
from  the  sound  of  her  uncle's  voice  that  he  was 
well  pleased  as  he  answered:  "Ay,  ay,  Penelope 
is  a  fair,  comely  maid,  and  like  to  have  as  many 
suitors  as  her  namesake  of  old.  My  Lord  of 
Buckingham  hath  called  on  me  this  morning,  and, 
seeing  her  by  chance,  he  swears  he  will  have  her 
for  his  valentine.  Methinks  a  damsel  that  hath 
captured  a  Duke  and  a  Laureate  within  the  one 
week  bids  fair  to  run  a  pretty  rig." 
251 


White  Aprons. 

"  The  Duke  of  Buckingham  is  a  dangerous 
man,  Mr.  Pepys,  —  a  very  dangerous  man." 

"  Ay,  he  hath  his  faults." 

"  Every  man  hath  faults,  but  Buckingham  alone 
hath  mastered  the  whole  volume  of  vice." 

"  Yet  he  hath  a  kind  heart,  and  as  pretty  a  wit 
as  any  in  England." 

"  Wit  ?  —  hm  !  —  if  you  call  it  so,"  —  said  the 
poet,  tapping  his  pouncet-box  impatiently ;  "  I 
would  name  it  rather  buffoonery.  Heard  ye  of 
the  scene  when  he  drove  my  play  from  the  stage  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  did  catch  some  hint  thereof." 

At  this  Penelope  fancied  she  could  hear  a  tone 
of  vexation  in  the  poet's  voice  as  he  cried  out,  — 

"  God  grant  I  die  not  till  I  have  written  our 
controversy ! " 

"  Say  rather  till  ye  have  righted  it,"  said  his 
host,  smoothly;  but  Mr.  Dryden  would  not  be 
appeased. 

"  Pepys,"  said  he,  "  for  that  ye  are  a  close- 
mouthed  man  I  will  read  ye  some  lines  from  a 
poem  of  mine  not  yet  published,  and  ye  shall  tell 
me  if  it  setteth  not  forth  the  Duke.  Listen,  here 
he  stands." 

Here   Penelope   heard   the   crackling  of  paper 
unfolded,  and  then,  after  a  slight  cough  to  clear  his 
throat,  the  poet's  voice  once  more  reading,  — 
252 


The  Lions  of  London. 

"  A  man  so  various  that  he  seemed  to  be 
Not  one,  but  all  mankind's  epitome; 
Stiff  in  opinions,  always  in  the  wrong  ; 
Was  everything  by  starts,  and  nothing  long; 
But  in  the  course  of  one  revolving  moon, 
Was  chymist,  fiddler,  statesman,  and  buffoon." 

To  Penelope's  thinking  it  would  have  been  more 
true  and  manly  had  her  uncle  spoken  out  to  pro 
tect  the  absent ;  but  he  said  little,  and  that  little  of 
doubtful  interpretation. 

When  Mr.  Dryden  had  gone  and  Penelope  came 
out  from  her  enforced  hiding,  her  Uncle  Pepys 
tweaked  her  ear  and  called  her  a  sly  puss,  hiding 
that  she  might  hear  her  own  praises ;  but  when  he 
saw  that  tears  stood  in  her  eyes  he  told  her  that 
he  but  jested,  and  that  he  did  not  on  the  whole 
feel  sorry  that  she  should  thus  have  had  a  chance 
to  catch  a  glimpse  behind  the  scenes  and  be  wit 
ness  of  the  petty  jealousies  which  afflict  the  great. 

For  Penelope  it  made  her  rejoice  the  more 
that  her  life  had  been  spent  among  folk  who 
knew  little  of  such  envy  and  emulation,  but  lived 
in  simplicity  of  heart  and  mind,  and  save  for 
these  late  dreadful  days  of  strife,  in  mutual  love 
and  kindliness. 


253 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THREE    LETTERS. 

"  Ah,  Love,  could  thou  and  I  with  fate  conspire 
To  grasp  this  sorry  scheme  of  life  entire, 
Would  we  not  shatter  it  to  bits,  and  then 
Remould  it  nearer  to  the  heart's  desire  ? " 

THE  rain  was  drizzling  outside  Penelope's  win 
dow  when  she  awoke  next  morning.  The  fog 
was  settled  down  so  thick  she  could  scarcely  see 
the  other  side  of  the  street,  and  she  was  forced  to 
light  her  candle  that  she  might  see  to  smooth  her 
hair.  It  being  still  too  early  for  breakfast  when 
she  was  dressed,  she  drew  forth  her  journal  and 
wrote  in  much  lowness  of  spirit :  "  A  doleful 
day,  and  one  wherein  naught  of  good  is  like  to 
befall.  I  wold  it  were  away  and  me  one  day 
nearer  home." 

Seldom  are  our  predictions,  even  for  the  short 
space  of  a  day,  borne  out  by  events.  We  leap  up 
joyously  to  greet  coming  happiness,  and  sorrow 
lays  its  heavy  hand  on  our  bounding  heart  and 
says,  "Be  still."  We  rise  reluctantly,  and  set  our 

254 


Tliree  Letters. 

teeth  to  bear  what  the  day  may  bring  forth,  and  lo, 
happiness  and  pleasure  circle  round  us,  smiling 
away  with  gentle  irony  our  fears  and  our  inquie 
tude.  So  it  proved  with  Penelope.  While  she 
was  still  writing,  Betty,  the  maid,  knocked  at  her 
chamber  door  and  brought  in  three  letters.  Pe 
nelope's  heart  beat  fast,  for  it  took  her  no  long 
time  to  see  that  they  were  from  over  seas,  and  that 
the  seal  of  two  out  of  the  three  bore  the  crest  of 
her  house.  She  hugged  them  to  her  heart,  and 
kissed  the  wax  again  and  again. 

A  second  glance  showed  her  the  dear  and  fami 
liar  writing  of  her  father  and  the  fine  tracing  of 
her  mother's  hand,  now,  alas,  trembling  and  fainter 
than  her  wont.  Which  think  you  she  opened 
first? 

Why,  God  forgive  her,  it  was  neither,  but  the 
third  letter,  with  superscription  written  in  a  bold 
character,  which  her  eyes  had  lighted  on  but  once 
before ;  but  she  knew  it  for  the  mate  of  the  one  her 
bird  had  brought  her  beneath  his  white  wing, — 
the  one  borne  even  now  on  her  heart. 

With  trembling  eagerness  she  tore  it  open  and 
read  the  last  words  first,  —  "  Thy  true  lover,  Bryan 
Fairfax."  It  was  enough.  He  lived.  He  loved 
her.  For  the  rest  she  could  wait,  and  she  turned 
again  to  the  other  letters. 

255 


White  Aprons. 

Her  mother's  note,  written  from  her  sick  bed,  was 
as  brave,  as  cheery,  and  as  full  of  thought  for 
others  as  her  heart  ever  was.  All  her  grief,  all  her 
anxiety,  was  for  Penelope.  It  was  such  a  letter  as 
Christiana  might  have  sent  back  from  Beulah-land 
to  her  child  still  struggling  up  the  hill  of  difficulty. 

Her  father's  letter,  too,  was  one  to  strengthen  the 
weakest  heart :  "  Be  not  dismayed,  dear  daughter," 
so  he  wrote;  "let  us  bravely  do  that  which  lies  in 
our  power,  and  leave  the  issue  in  the  hands  of  that 
God  who  hath  overruled  tyrants  greater  than 
Berkeley  in  the  interest  of  those  weaker  than  we. 
The  King's  Commissioners  are  come,  and  many 
be  called  before  them  for  the  giving  of  testimony; 
yet  they  say  they  bring  no  instructions  to  override 
the  Governor,  but  only  to  make  report  upon  his 
administering  of  his  office  to  His  Majesty.  There 
is  a  bitter  quarrel  on  betwixt  Berkeley  and  Sarah 
Drummond,  from  whom  he  hath  alienated  the 
estate  of  her  husband,  and  turned  her  and  her 
little  ones  out  of  house  and  home  to  wander  shel 
terless  in  the  woods  but  for  the  kindness  and 
charity  of  her  neighbors.  Dame  Drummond  vows 
she  will  have  back  her  property,  and  is  raising 
heaven  and  earth  to  get  her  case  before  the  King.  I 
know  not  what  the  outcome  will  be.  God  knows 
matters  look  black  all  around  us,  and  our  own  dark 

256 


Three  Letters. 

enough  ;  but  I  am  doing  my  utmost  with  Berkeley, 
and  I  have  striven  diligently  with  Sir  John  Berry, 
who  hath  come  over  at  the  head  of  the  Commission, 
and  who  at  my  urgency  hath  promised  to  plead 
the  cause  of  Fairfax  with  Sir  William.  Do  not 
despair,  therefore,  even  shouldst  thou  fail  to  reach 
the  ear  of  the  King.  I  have  writ  your  uncle. 
Should  he  succeed  in  procuring  for  you  an  intro 
duction  at  Court,  bear  in  mind  my  parting  words. 
Put  not  too  much  trust  in  any  man  —  not  even  in  "  — 
(Here  certain  words  were  blotted  and  half  scratched 
out ;  but  Penelope's  curiosity  leading  her  to  study 
them  the  more  closely,  she  could  have  sworn  she 
read  "the  King  himself,"  but  the  matter  was 
beyond  her  comprehension.) 

"  Bear  thyself,"  he  continued,  "  like  a  true  and 
virtuous  woman,  and  thou  shalt  have  no  cause  to 
fear  snares  or  pitfalls,  though  I  am  told  they  do 
mightily  abound  at  Court.  Wherever  thou  goest, 
my  blessing  and  thy  mother's  is  ever  with  thee. 
Forget  not,  I  charge  thee,  how  our  good  preacher, 
the  worthy  Dr.  Fuller,  hath  said  there  is  a  tree  in 
Mexicana  so  tender  that  if  a  man  but  touch  its 
branches  it  do  presently  wither  away,  and  that  a 
woman's  credit  is  of  equal  nicety.  I  speak  this,  not 
that  I  have  not  full  confidence  in  thee,  but  as  know 
ing  too  well  the  poison  that  lurketh  in  the  air  of 
17  257 


White  Aprons. 

Courts.  Thy  dear  mother  hath  failed  a  little  since 
thy  going,  but  spite  of  all  she  is  as  ever  the  life 
and  soul  and  sunshine  of  the  house.  She  talks  and 
thinks  of  nothing  but  thee,  and  prays  ever  for  thy 
success.  If  the  prayers  of  the  saints  availed  in 
times  of  old,  why  not  now?  Be  of  good  cheer, 
therefore,  and  go  forward  in  full  faith  and  with 
unshaken  confidence.  I  have  succeeded  through 
one  of  the  jailers  in  getting  for  thee  a  line  from 
Fairfax,  which,  methinks,  will  do  more  to  cheer  thee 
than  all  the  pages  I  can  write.  It  goes  with  mine 
on  the  ship  which  sails  to-morrow.  Who  would 
have  thought  I  could  e  'er  be  reconciled  to  such  a 
marriage  for  thee  !  But  now  my  earnest  prayer  is 
that  God  may  keep  him  for  thee  and  send  thee 
safe  home  to  him  and  to  us."  (Here  a  tear 
blotted  the  paper.)  "  He  is  a  fine  fellow,  and 
there  do  be  much  talk  of  his  cheerful  courage  in 
the  prison  at  James  City." 

Could  anything  have  made  Penelope  love  her 
father  more  it  would  have  been  these  words. 
"  Oh,  how  unworthy,"  she  thought,  "  am  I  of  so 
much  affection ! " 

Having  smoothed  out  this  letter  and  laid  it  by  the 
side  of  her  mother's,  Penelope  again  took  up  that 
other,  and  having  kissed  and  cried  over  the  outside, 
she  unfolded  it  slowly  and  laid  it  open  on  her  knee. 


Three  Letters. 

She  felt  in  that  instant  the  fulness  of  joy,  and  was 
ready  to  swear  that  should  darkness  and  sorrow 
shut  down  like  a  mourning  veil  about  her  future, 
this  one  moment  would  atone  for  all. 

"  MY  DEAR  LOVE,"  —  thus  the  note  began,  —  "  Waste 
no  tears  from  those  bright  eyes  of  thine  in  thinking  upon 
me.  Thy  love  has  made  me  the  happiest  man  in  Vir 
ginia  ;  ay,  and  the  proudest,  though  iron  bars  be  around 
me  and  a  scaffold  before  me.  Should  the  worst  come, 
say  to  thyself,  'There  died  a  man  who  had  known  the 
chiefest  good  which  can  come  to  mortals  and  whose 
heart  went  singing  in  its  prison.' 

"  Ay,  dearest,  and  't  is  not  my  heart  alone  that  sings, 
but  my  voice  also,  till  the  gaolers  do  oft  put  in  their 
heads,  thinking,  I  verily  believe,  that  through  my  mis 
fortune  I  am  gone  daft.  The  tune  that  does  be  of  test  on 
my  tongue  is  that  one  you  sang  in  the  hall  of  Rosemary 
(ah,  I  can  see  thee  yet,  darling,  with  the  September  sun 
glistening  in  thy  bright  hair,  and  the  tender  look  in  thine 
eyes  ere  my  rude  summons  called  the  darkness  of  anger 
into  them),  and  the  burden  of  those  words,  —  shall  I  e'er 
forget  them  ?  — '  Love  will  find  out  the  way  —  Love  will 
find  out  the  way ! '  Ay,  doubt  it  not,  dear  heart.  Not, 
perchance,  the  way  thou  and  I  in  our  mortal  short 
sightedness  would  choose,  but  the  way  which,  though  it 
leads  through  the  very  Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death, 
is  filled  with  light  and  gladness  because  it  is  the  way  of 
love. 
"  Till  death —  ay,  and  after,  —  thy  true  lover, 

"BRYAN  FAIRFAX." 

259 


White  Aprons. 

It  was  long  before  Penelope  could  cease  read 
ing  this  letter  over  and  over ;  and  even  when  she 
had  conned  every  word  by  heart  she  still  pored 
over  the  written  lines,  till  Betty  knocked  once  more, 
to  say  that  Master  Pepys  was  impatient  for  her 
coming,  and  Mrs.  Fane  was  angry  that  the  break 
fast  was  kept  waiting  so  long  on  the  table. 

More  alarmed  at  the  prospect  of  Mrs.  Fane's 
wrath  than  of  her  uncle's  impatience,  Penelope 
hastily  tucked  away  her  precious  letters,  and  tripped 
down  the  stairs  as  if  her  lightness  of  heart  had  lent 
lightness  to  her  feet.  Her  uncle  looked  at  her  quiz 
zically  as  she  entered.  "  So,  Mistress  Pen,"  said  he, 
"  you  and  your  father  did  fancy  yourselves  a  match 
in  state-craft  for  Samuel  Pepys,  who  hath  been 
near  the  Court  these  twenty  years.  If  't  were  not 
so  childish  simple,  one  might  well  be  vext  thereat." 

"  How  mean  you,  uncle  ?  Sooth,  I  am  guilty  of 
no  deceiving." 

"  Faith,"  cried  Pepys,  slapping  his  knee,  "  your 
ingenuous  father  writes  me  that  he  thinks  himself 
to  seek  in  frankness  that  he  wrote  me  not  upon 
your  first  coming  that  this  Bryan  Fairfax  was 
your  lover  as  well  as  his  friend,  —  oh,  mighty  confi 
dence  —  deep  secret  indeed !  As  if  I  were  like 
to  believe  those  downcast  looks  and  heart-rending 
sighs  were  all  for  thy  father's  friend,  or  that  thy 
260 


Three  Letters. 

father  would  e'er  have  given  his  consent  to  thy 
making  of  thy  perilous  journey  without  the  occa 
sion  was  most  pressing  and  personal  in  its  nature ! 
Sooth,  I  never  could  have  forgiven  either  him  or 
you  but  that  I  knew  the  convicted  rebel  was  your 
lover. 

"  Nay,  nay,  redden  not,  nor  let  fall  those  tears 
upon  that  fresh  front  of  thine,  for  the  laundering 
thereof  will  cost  sixpence.  'T  is  no  crime  to  have  a 
lover,  —  still  less  to  strive  to  save  his  life.  Now 
sit  ye  down,  and  have  a  bite  of  this  toasted  cheese 
which  Mrs.  Fane  did  prepare  because  ye  did  say 
ye  liked  it.  I  know  not  how  ye  have  twisted  that 
old  woman  about  your  pretty  finger,  but  an  ye  do 
as  well  with  the  King  ye  may  look  to  succeed  with 
out  a  struggle.  'T  is  most  unfair  that  youth  and 
good  looks  should  win  with  ease  where  plain  age 
must  work  so  hard." 

It  was  evident  that  Mr.  Pepys  was  in  high  good 
humor;  but  when  Penelope  asked  him  tremblingly 
if  he  had  heard  aught  touching  an  audience  with 
the  King,  he  shook  his  head  and  counselled  her  to 
wait  patiently,  for  that  was  the  first  lesson  learned 
at  Court.  With  this,  and  a  tweak  of  the  ear,  he 
bade  her  fetch  her  hood  and  make  ready  to  go  out 
with  him,  for  the  rain  was  clearing,  and  he  was  fain 
to  take  her  with  him  to  the  house  of  a  friend. 
261 


White  Aprons. 

For  this  expedition  Penelope  donned  a  black 
paragon  petticoat  with  her  aunt's  cramoisie  bodice, 
and  a  whisk  of  snowy  lawn  above  it,  and  over  all 
her  brown  camelot  cloak  with  hood  and  veil,  and, 
thus  equipped,  she  set  forth  with  her  uncle  obedi 
ently,  though  with  no  great  interest. 

When  they  were  come  to  the  rooms  of  Godfrey 
Kneller,  who  was  the  friend  they  were  to  see,  the 
painter  had  gone  out  for  a  time ;  but  the  servant 
bade  them  enter  and  await  his  coming,  which  they 
did.  The  rooms  were  warm,  and  Penelope  was 
glad  to  accept  her  uncle's  permission  to  put  off 
her  cloak  and  hood,  which  he  gallantly  took  from 
her  hand  and  threw  over  the  high  back  of  the 
oaken  chair  whereon  she  sat  beneath  the  latticed 
window. 

Her  uncle  was  quite  right  in  his  assurance  that 
change  of  scene  was  the  best  help  for  her  uneasy 
soul,  and  that  no  anxiety  in  youth  can  wholly 
obscure  the  interest  which  lies  in  novelty.  His 
wisdom  showed  itself  still  further  in  his  leaving  her 
now  to  herself,  unmolested  by  calls  upon  her  atten 
tion.  But  this  was,  perhaps,  as  much  out  of  regard 
for  himself  as  for  her,  since  he  was  not  above  taking 
his  own  comfort  into  consideration. 

Picking  up  a  volume  of  Marlowe's  plays,  he 
sat  down  in  the  corner  and  began  to  read,  with 
262 


Three  Letters. 

such  absorption  of  interest  that  his  chuckles 
and  strange  grimaces  and  pursing  of  the  lips  al 
most  drove  his  niece  to  open  laughter,  till  she 
took  refuge  in  gazing  about  the  apartment,  which 
was  full  of  things  quaint  and  curious,  —  at  least 
to  Penelope's  unaccustomed  eyes.  An  easel  stood 
in  one  corner  beside  the  window,  with  a  palette 
still  wet  hanging  upon  its  peg,  and  a  stiff  stool 
near  by,  as  though  the  artist  had  but  just  pushed 
it  away.  A  massive  chest  of  black  oak  leaned  its 
lid  against  the  wall,  which  gave  support  to  the 
rickety  cover,  and  formed  a  background  for  a  draw 
ing  in  black  and  white.  Above  it,  covering  almost 
the  side  of  the  room,  hung  a  great  Flemish  tapestry 
representing  the  temptation  of  Eve,  wherein  a 
green  serpent  was  seen  curling  round  a  yellow  tree 
to  reach  a  brown  apple,  while  Adam  and  Eve 
looked  on  from  behind  a  hedge  of  red  bushes.  Yet 
so  old  and  mellow  were  the  colors  that  they  blended 
into  a  fine,  harmonious  tone,  which  matched  well 
with  the  artist's  other  belongings ;  and  though  the 
chest  beneath  it  was  from  France,  and  the  carved 
table  before  it  from  Sweden,  and  the  mantel  had 
been  brought  hither  from  an  old  Italian  palace, 
yet  there  was  no  break  in  the  harmony:  for 
fine  furnishings  are  like  fine  folk,  and  have 
power  to  adapt  themselves  to  their  surroundings, 


White  Aprons. 

and,  for  the  matter  of  that,  the  best  are  at  home 
everywhere. 

No  whit  of  all  this  philosophizing,  you  may  be 
sure,  came  into  Penelope's  mind  as  she  gazed 
around  with  wide-open,  child-like  eyes,  her  lips 
parted,  and  her  cheek  flushed  by  the  heat  from  the 
great  logs  which  blazed  at  the  back  of  the  deep 
fireplace.  She  was  only  vaguely  conscious  of 
pleasure  in  all  this  warmth  and  color  and  beauty. 
At  length  Mr.  Pepys  shut  his  book,  looked  at  the 
clock,  and  vowed  they  must  be  going  unless  the 
artist  came  soon,  though  he  would  like  to  have  Pe 
nelope  catch  sight  of  his  portraits,  for  some  counted 
them  the  best  in  England. 

They  had  been  sitting  but  a  few  moments  longer 
when  Kneller  came  in  after  the  brisk  fashion  which 
was  his  wont ;  but  catching  sight  of  Penelope  he 
fell  back  a  step,  as  if  in  amazement,  and  scarcely 
waiting  to  say  "Good  day,"  he  exclaimed  to  her 
uncle,  "  I  do  entreat  your  permission  to  make  a 
sketch  of  this  young  lady,  whoever  she  be." 

"  Ah,"  answered  Mr.  Pepys,  with  a  low  bow, 
"such  a  request  from  Godfrey  Kneller  is  a  com 
pliment  indeed,  and  some  day,  when  my  niece  is  in 
her  best  attire,  we  shall  both  be  only  too  happy  to 
grant  the  sitting." 

"  My  good  sir,"  interrupted  Kneller,  impatiently, 
264 


Three  Letters. 

"  I  would  have  you  know  I  am  an  artist,  not  a 
tailor"  When  he  had  got  thus  far  he  stopped 
and  bit  his  lip,  and  Penelope  saw  that  he  had  of  a 
sudden  remembered  that  Mr.  Pepys's  father  was 
of  that  calling,  for  he  hurried  on :  "  Your  niece  is 
of  so  rare  and  delicate  a  beauty  that  dress  is  an 
impertinence  which  doth  rather  detract  from  it  than 
enhance  it.  Of  a  truth,  I  am  weary  of  painting 
bedizened  dames  with  powder  and  paint,  and 
patches  set  on  in  fantastical  shapes  of  birds  and 
beasts  and  even  coach  and  four.  This  simplicity 
will  have  all  the  charms  of  art  blended  with  nature, 
and  novelty  to  crown  all.  I  will  have  her  just  as 
she  is,  with  the  sunlight  falling  through  the  lattice 
upon  that  wonderful  hair. 

"  'T  is  a  strange,  mixed  type  of  beauty,"  he  con 
tinued,  as  if  talking  to  himself  of  some  portrait. 
"  The  pink  and  white  of  the  skin  are  pure  English, 
but  the  hot  red  tones  in  the  hair  bespeak  a  more 
Southern  race.  That  long  Spanish  eye  should 
go  with  calm,  voluptuous  features,  and  looketh 
strangely  at  variance  with  the  petulant  nostril  and 
short-lipped,  decided  mouth  beneath  it.  'T  is  a  face 
full  of  contradictions,  but  only  the  more  charming 
for  that;  and  nothing  could  be  finer  to  an  artist's  eye 
than  the  flesh  tints  seen  through  the  bluish  shadows 
of  the  lawn  folds.  Yet  pardon  me  if  I  draw  it  back 

265 


White  Aprons. 

a  trifle  —  thus  —  that  the  turn  of  the  throat  and 
the  curve  of  the  chin  be  the  better  seen.  So  — 
that  is  perfect.  Prithee,  young  lady,  stir  not, 
but  stay  exactly  as  you  are  while  I  fetch  my 
canvas." 

With  this  he  ran  out  of  the  room,  and  presently 
returned  with  a  roll  of  canvas  which  he  fastened 
to  a  stretcher  and  set  upon  an  easel  before  Pe 
nelope.  About  the  floor  stood  various  portraits,  so 
faithful  to  life  that  the  young  visitor,  who  knew 
little  of  the  painter's  art,  almost  expected  to  see 
them  speak.  In  particular  the  portrait  of  the 
Queen  —  rather  pretty,  with  soft  eyes  and  a  white 
neck,  on  which  her  hair  fell  in  stiff  little  curls  like 
the  tendrils  of  the  grapevines  in  spring  —  greatly 
took  her  fancy. 

"There,"  said  Kneller  at  last,  stepping  back 
that  he  might  view  his  sketch  the  better,  "  't  is  little 
more  than  a  hint,  but  I  can  now  work  it  out  alone, 
and  perchance  Mistress  Payne  will  grant  me  an 
other  sitting  on  the  morrow." 

"The  working  of  this  great  artist,"  wrote  Pe 
nelope  afterward  in  her  diary,  "is  surely  like  ye 
waving  of  a  magician's  wand  ;  for  ere  I  had  time  to 
tire  of  looking  about,  he  had  set  on  his  canvas  a 
picture  which  I  should  have  said  was  alive,  only 
far,  far  too  butifull  for  me.  I  should  scarce  have 
266 


Three  Letters. 

known  it  but  for  that  homesick  look  in  its  eyes,  and 
ye  string  of  pearls  about  ye  throat."  1 

1  Visitors  to  the  National  Gallery  may  have  noticed  a 
portrait  closely  resembling  this  description.  It  is 
labelled  in  the  catalogue,  "  Portrait  of  a  lady,  —  un 
known,  —  by  Sir  Godfrey  Kneller."  But  if  the  visitor 
inspect  the  canvas  closely,  he  will  find  in  the  lower  left- 
hand  corner,  traced  in  red,  the  word  "  Penelope." 


267 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

PENELOPE    GOES    TO    COURT. 

She  sails  by  that  rock,  the  Court, 
Where  oft  Virtue  splits  her  mast 
And  retiredness  thinks  the  port 
Where  her  fame  may  anchor  cast  — 
Virtue  cannot  safely  sit 
Where  vice  is  enthroned  for  wit. 

"  T  AM  to  go  to  Court,  and  'tis  come  about  in 
*  the  strangest  fashion.  One  would  scarce 
credit  it  an  it  were  set  forth  in  a  play.  Folk  would 
say,  *  Why  doth  ye  playwright  trifle  with  us  thus, 
and  think  to  trick  us  into  a  belief  in  so  unlikely  a 
happening  ? '  Yet  all  this  hath  verily  come  to 
pass,  and  in  real  life  too." 

Yes,  it  was  indeed,  as  Penelope  wrote  in  her 
journal,  a  strange  happening.  Just  when  she  and 
her  uncle  were  worn  out  with  waiting  for  news 
from  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  when  Mr. 
Pepys  was  actually  writing  to  beg  the  intervention 
of  the  Duke  of  York  with  the  King,  his  brother, 
268 


Penelope  goes  to   Court. 

in  burst  Godfrey  Kneller  one  morning,  bubbling 
over  with  joy  and  well-nigh  breathless  with 
excitement. 

He  had  been  at  Whitehall,  so  his  story  ran,  for 
a  sitting  of  Queen  Catherine,  —  the  last  before  the 
finishing  of  her  portrait,  —  and  having  with  him  the 
sketch  of  Penelope,  had  shown  it  to  the  Queen  as 
a  fancy  piece,  to  be  called  "  Spring ; "  and  she,  being 
mightily  taken  therewith,  had  called  His  Majesty, 
and  bade  him  say  if  ever  he  had  seen  a  face  so 
fair  at  once  and  so  sad.  "  5T  is  '  Spring '  indeed,'1 
quoth  she,  "  and  a  very  pretty  conceit,  with  the  sun 
on  the  hair  and  the  dew  in  the  eyes  and  April  in 
the  showery  smiling  o'  the  lips." 

But  His  Majesty  took  the  picture  to  the  window, 
and,  after  studying  it  close,  looked  up  and  said  to 
the  artist,  while  he  twirled  his  mustachios  :  — 

41  Kneller,  this  is  no  fancy  piece.  'T  is  a  por 
trait,  and  a  close  study  at  that.  This  eye,  with  its 
tiny  mole  on  the  under  lid,  hath  the  very  trick  of 
life  in  't,  and  that  ripple  of  red  brown  hair  was 
never  imagined  save  by  him  who  had  seen  it.  Out 
with  it,  man,  —  what  name  bears  thy  '  Spring '  when 
she  steps  forth  from  this  canvas  ?  " 

"  Thus  commanded  by  royalty,"  said  the  painter, 
"  I  dared  not  dissemble,  but  told  him  straight  't  was 
the  niece  of  Samuel  Pepys,  — one  Mistress  Pe- 
269 


White  Aprons. 

nelope  Payne,  but  lately  come  to  London  from  the 
colony  of  Virginia." 

"  '  Pepys  ?  '  quoth  the  King;  '  Pepys  of  the  Navy 
Office  I  trow.  He  hath  besieged  me  with  letters  of 
late,  since  he  hath  been  in  disgrace,  begging  to 
come  kiss  my  hand.  Well,  perchance  his  banish 
ment  hath  lasted  long  enough,  —  how  say  you, 
Kate,  shall  we  have  this  Mistress  Spring  and  her 
uncle  to  our  mask  next  week  ? ' 

"  The  Queen,  who,  methought,  was  but  too  happy 
at  hearing  herself  thus  kindly  spoke  to  by  His 
Majesty,  smiled  right  graciously,  and  declared  she 
would  give  much  to  see  the  beautiful  young 
stranger  ;  whereupon  the  Chamberlain,  in  my  hear 
ing,  was  bidden  to  despatch  a  card.  Methinks," 
Kneller  added,  "it  had  been  no  more  than  civil 
had  he  included  the  artist  as  well  as  the  subject ; 
but  we  painters  rarely  get  our  deserts,  and  I  bear 
no  malice,  and  shall  feel  more  than  repaid  if  I 
catch  a  glimpse  of  Mistress  Payne  in  her  Court 
attire." 

The  good  Kneller  little  knew  what  service  he 
had  done  his  sitter.  He  thought  he  was  giving  a 
young  girl  from  the  wilderness  a  taste  of  Court 
pleasures.  In  fact,  he  was  giving  her  a  chance  for 
life.  Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  on  a  February 
morning  a  great  card  arrived  at  the  door  of 
270 


Penelope  goes  to  Court. 

the  small  house  in  Seething  Lane, —  a  card  with 
gilt  lettering,  bidding  Mr.  Pepys  and  his  niece  to 
a  mask  at  Whitehall  a  week  from  that  night. 
Penslope  wavered  between  the  heights  of  hope 
and  the  depths  of  despair;  but  her  uncle  was  all 
delight,  and  talked  of  costumes  till  his  niece  was 
nearly  distracted.  She  strove  to  gain  his  permis 
sion  to  go  as  a  nun,  in  a  black  domino ;  but  he 
would  hear  no  such  word. 

"  If  you  would  catch  the  King's  ear,"  said  Mas 
ter  Worldly-Wise-Man,  "  ye  must  first  catch  his 
eye."  So  he  talked  now  of  a  shepherdess,  that 
the  turn  of  the  foot  might  show  to  advantage  ;  then 
of  Diana  with  a  bow  and  arrows,  leaving  the  arm 
bare ;  then  of  the  part  of  St.  Cecilia,  which,  as 
he  said,  need  cost  but  little,  as  his  cousin  Roger 
would  lend  the  harp,  only  that  would  prevent 
moving  about,  and  Penelope's  walk  was  the  most 
seizing  thing  about  her. 

At  last,  wearied  out,  poor  Penelope  cried :  "  If  in 
very  truth  I  must  trick  out  a  sad  heart  in  such  like 
mumeries,  I  will  go  as  Virginia." 

"  Ay,  and  so  thou  shalt,"  answered  her  uncle. 
"'Tis  an  extraordinary  good  idea  and  do  please 
me  mightily.  For  myself,  I  will  be  a  Spanish  car 
dinal,  for  I  love  a  scarlet  robe,  and  considering  the 
silver  cup  I  have  promised  to  the  clothworkers, 
271 


White  Aprons. 

methinks  I  should  get  the  making  on 't  for  nothing." 
And  so  the  matter  was  settled. 

It  was  scarcely  two  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  ball  when  Betty  and  Dolly  came  to  Penelope's 
chamber  bearing  the  dress  which  her  uncle  had 
provided.  It  was  indeed  a  marvel  of  ingenuity, 
and  did  credit  to  his  taste  and  imagination.  The 
petticoat  was  of  white  satin,  wrought  richly  about 
the  edge  with  a  design  of  tobacco  leaves  worked 
in  golden  thread.  The  bodice  was  finished  with  a 
fall  of  soft  yellow  lace,  and  the  girdle  fell  to  meet 
the  hem  in  tassels  like  the  tassels  of  the  Indian 
corn.  About  her  neck  Penelope  wore  her  mother's 
string  of  pearls  ;  and  on  her  head  they  set  a  crown 
made  in  the  form  of  five  golden  bands,  one  above 
the  other,  and  on  the  upper  was  writ  in  bril 
liants,  — 

"  Virginia  adds  a  fifth  crown" 

When  Penelope  looked  into  her  bit  of  mirror, 
her  heart  gave  a  sudden  leap,  in  spite  of  all  her 
trouble,  at  the  loveliness  which  smiled  back  at 
her,  though  she  could  scarcely  connect  that  radiant 
vision  in  any  fashion  with  herself ;  but  when  she 
went  downstairs  she  read  in  her  uncle's  eyes  a 
repetition  of  the  flattering  story  her  glass  had  told 
her  above.  It  was  indeed  a  tribute  that  none 
272 


Penelope  goes  to  Court. 

could  fail  to  pay  who  saw  her  as  she  was  that 
night,  —  beautiful,  exceedingly,  with  a  loveliness 
far  above  and  beyond  that  of  mere  sense ;  a  flame 
blazing  out  through  her  great  dark  eyes,  and  burn 
ing  on  her  red  lips,  and  breathing  from  her  heaving 
bosom.  She  was  indeed  the  soul  of  love  incarnate. 

"  Child  !  "  cried  Master  Pepys,  "  thy  cause  is 
as  good  as  won.  If  the  King  set  eyes  on  thee  as 
thou  art  now,  he  can  refuse  thee  naught.  Prithee, 
Pen,  what  think  ye  of  my  looks  ?  " 

With  this,  the  tailor  in  him  much  delighted  with 
his  trappings,  he  strutted  thrice  up  and  down  the 
room  in  his  red  cap  and  gown,  with  the  church 
lace  in  front  hanging  clear  to  his  knees,  and  with 
such  a  solemn  air  as  gave  his  niece  great  trouble 
to  keep  a  grave  face.  In  the  midst  of  his  showing 
off  his  finery,  Betty  came  running  up  to  say  that  it 
was  past  seven,  and  the  chairs  were  at  the  door. 

When  they  were  seated,  Penelope's  crown  stood 
so  high  that  the  bearers  could  scarcely  shut  down 
the  cover,  and  they  were  so  long  about  the  business 
that  Mr.  Pepys  swore  roundly  at  them,  and  charged 
them  with  delaying  that  they  might  ask  the  more 
pay  for  their  time ;  but  one  of  the  bearers  answered 
that  for  his  part  he  thought  himself  well  paid  by 
the  sight  of  so  beautiful  a  lady,  which  Penelope 
thought  wondrous  civil  for  a  chair  man. 
18  273 


White  Aprons. 

Dolly  felt  herself  a  fine  lady  in  a  chair  of  her 
own.  The  link  boys  went  before  and  behind  ;  yet 
so  bad  were  the  streets  that,  despite  their  lights, 
the  bearer  of  Penelope's  chair  stumbled  twice,  and 
the  jerk  went  nigh  to  throw  poor  Virginia  into  the 
mud,  and  so  shook  her  crown  that  she  feared  it 
could  never  be  set  straight,  and  she  fell  to  crying 
secretly,  which  was  very  weak  and  foolish. 

At  the  last,  when  they  were  come  within  sight  of 
the  palace,  her  heart  quite  failed  her,  and  she  would 
have  gone  back;  but  she  knew  her  uncle  would 
not  hear  of  it :  and  I  would  rather  believe  that  she 
herself  would  not  in  the  end  have  shown  herself 
such  a  coward.  Up  the  marble  steps  they  went, 
and,  having  shown  their  card,  Penelope  entered 
into  the  disrobing  room,  and  there,  after  what 
seemed  an  eternity,  her  uncle  came  for  her,  and 
together  they  passed  down  the  corridor  and  en 
tered  the  great  ball-room,  where  was  much  twang 
ing  of  fiddles,  and  tightening  of  strings,  and 
rosining  of  bows. 

The  room  was  so  large  that,  though  many  were 
gathered,  they  seemed  scarcely  a  handful  therein ; 
and  as  they  walked  about,  so  highly  polished  was 
the  floor,  they  seemed  like  two  companies  walking 
with  their  feet  together.  A  subdued  buzz  of  talk 
was  going  round,  with  much  laughter  and  merry- 
274 


Penelope  goes  to   Court. 

making ;  but  as  they  entered,  Mr.  Pepys  and  his 
niece,  with  turbaned  Dolly  holding  up  the  young 
lady's  train,  the  talk  died  away,  and  but  for  the  pro 
tection  of  her  mask  Penelope  thought  she  would 
have  died  of  fright. 

In  truth  the  sight  itself  might  well  have  fright 
ened  a  maid,  for  here  was  such  a  crew  as  never 
gathered  save  round  the  lady  in  "  Comus."  Satyrs 
with  goat-skin  legs  jostled  devils  with  horns  and 
hoofs  and  wicked  eyes  gleaming  through  their  red 
masks.  Nymphs  there  were  in  plenty,  and  rustic 
maids,  whose  bare  necks  and  arms  put  Penelope  to 
the  blush,  and  made  her  wonder  if  the  ladies  of 
the  Court  fancied  that  country  people  went  thus 
half-clad.  It  made  Penelope  smile,  though  her 
heart  was  in  her  throat,  to  fancy  such  costumes  at 
Middle  Plantation. 

After  the  hush  which  had  greeted  her  entrance,  the 
talk  began  again,  livelier  than  ever,  and  Penelope 
caught  some  comments  which  she  felt  sure  con 
cerned  herself. 

"  Who  is  she  ?  " 

"  I  know  not,  but  know  I  will  ere  the  evening 
ends." 

"  Be  not  too  bold.  By  the  carriage  of  her  head, 
I  could  swear  she  is  meet  company  for  thy  betters." 

11  Look  at  that  strange   blackamoor  who  bears 

275 


White  Aprons. 

her  train.  Is  she  really  black,  or  a  maid  of 
honor,  disguised  like  the  Jennings  and  her  mis 
chievous  friend,  when  they  scandalized  the  Court  by 
playing  at  orange  girl  before  the  theatre  doors  ?  " 

So  vext  and  wrought  up,  half  with  wrath  and 
half  with  terror,  was  Penelope  at  all  this  bold  talk, 
that  she  would  even  now  have  run  away ;  but  it 
was  too  late.  A  blare  of  trumpets  and  a  crash  of 
all  the  instruments  together  announced  the  coming 
of  the  King's  party,  and  the  Lord  Chamberlain  with 
a  wave  of  his  white  wand  crowded  every  one  back 
against  either  wall  to  make  room  for  the  royal  entry. 

Oh,  how  Penelope's  heart  beat  as  she  turned 
her  eyes  to  the  door!  In  they  came.  First  the 
King  and  Queen,  together  and  unmasked ;  then  a 
bevy  of  ladies,  who,  as  it  seemed  to  the  little  pro 
vincial  maiden,  must  wear  their  masks  to  hide 
their  shame  at  the  bareness  of  their  bosoms ;  and 
after  them,  again,  a  crowd  of  gallants  in  every  sort 
of  fantastic  costume. 

As  the  King  and  Queen  passed  close  before 
Penelope  she  had  opportunity  to  study  them  both. 
The  Queen  was  short  and  dumpy  of  figure,  but 
full  of  a  comely  graciousness  which  lent  beauty  to 
a  face  otherwise  ill-favored,  with  large  protruding 
teeth  which  pushed  out  her  lips  like  a  negro's. 
The  King,  Penelope  thought,  with  his  tall  figure 
276 


Penelope  goes  to   Court. 

and  rich  dress,  was  all  a  king  should  be,  though  the 
deep  furrows  of  brow  and  cheek  belied  his  title  of 
"  The  Merry  Monarch."  Even  to  Penelope's  un 
tutored  eye  that  saturnine  face  spoke  a  melancholy 
which  strove  in  vain  to  find  mirth  in  excess. 

Their  Majesties  moved  slowly  down  the  hall, 
pausing  now  to  note  and  smile  at  some  costume 
stranger,  if  possible,  than  the  rest,  where  all  were 
strange ;  now  to  comment  on  some  extraordinarily 
rich  and  striking  dress.  When  they  had  reached 
the  head  of  the  room,  His  Majesty  with  great 
courtliness  handed  the  Queen  to  her  seat  upon  a 
gilded  chair  covered  in  velvet  with  an  embroidered 
canopy  above  it ;  but  instead  of  taking  the  chair 
which  stood  beside  it,  he  returned  to  the  other 
end  of  the  room,  and  summoned  to  his  side  one 
who  played  the  r61e  of  soothsayer,  —  a  tall  figure 
in  Oriental  garb,  with  long  white  beard,  and  flow 
ing  robes  over  which  hung  chains  and  rich  jewelry, 
which,  had  they  been  real,  must  have  exhausted 
the  treasure-houses  of  the  East. 

"  Come,  good  Master  Soothsayer !  "  cried  the 
King,  "draw  near  and  I  will  have  you  test  your 
powers.  We  will  have  up  the  ladies  of  the  Court 
one  by  one,  and  I  will  try  if  that  keen  eye  of  yours 
can  see  through  a  mask,  and  that  wagging 
beard  let  slip  a  true  prophecy." 
277 


White  Aprons. 

At  these  words,  all  who  could  decently  leave  the 
Queen  circled  close  about  the  group  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  hall,  and  one  after  another  the  ladies 
drew  near ;  and  by  the  peals  of  laughter  which  fol 
lowed  the  soothsayer's  words  Penelope  judged  that 
they  must  have  struck  home.  Absorbed  in  look 
ing  and  listening  as  she  was,  she  had  wholly  for 
gotten  herself,  when  of  a  sudden,  to  her  infinite 
alarm,  the  usher  of  the  white  rod  plucked  her 
softly  by  the  sleeve,  saying:  "  Lady,  the  soothsayer 
wishes  to  tell  your  fortune,  and  the  King  bids  you 
come  forward." 

Poor  Penelope  shrank  back  in  terror  very  un- 
suited  to  her  part,  and  would  have  begged  to  be 
excused ;  but  her  uncle  frowned  upon  her,  which 
frightened  her  more  than  aught  else,  and  at  the 
same  time  his  arm  seized  and  fairly  pushed  her 
forward,  till  she  found  herself  the  centre  of  the 
brilliant,  laughing  circle  which  had  gathered  about 
the  King  and  the  sorcerer. 

Here  Penelope's  natural  grace  and  courtesy 
untaught  of  courts  came  to  her  aid,  and  made  her 
a  fit  centre  for  even  such  a  circle.  Kneeling,  as 
she  had  observed  the  rest  do,  she  bent  her  head 
and  kissed  the  King's  hand,  and  then,  rising,  bowed 
after  a  more  stately  fashion  to  the  soothsayer. 

"  Are  you  prepared,  young  woman,  to  listen  to 

278 


Penelope  goes  to  Court. 

your  fate  ?  "  asked  the  sham  sorcerer,  with  a  so 
lemnity  which  would  have  befitted  the  cardinal 
saying  mass  at  St.  Peter's." 

"  Let  it  be  a  kind  one,"  murmured  Penelope  with 
fast-beating  heart. 

"  Hearken,  then  ;  I  say  it,  and  even  as  I  say  it  so 
shall  it  be.  Ye  shall  have  many  strange  experi 
ences  ;  but  all  shall  end  well,  —  at  least  for  yourself. 
Honor  and  fortune  await  you,  if  you  have  the  wit 
and  the  courage  to  grasp  them.  It  is  your  destiny 
to  live  to  a  good  old  age  here  in  England,  loaded 
with  riches,  and  never  more  to  return  to  that  wil 
derness  whence  you  came  hither  and  where  all  the 
land  is  divided  twixt  savages  and  rebels." 

What  with  amazement  that  the  soothsayer  had 
guessed  so  much  of  her  history,  and  a  superstitious 
feeling  which  she  could  not  shake  off  that  there 
was  something  of  omen  in  the  words,  Penelope  was 
quite  overcome.  She  gave  a  great  gasp,  swayed 
to  and  fro,  and  would  have  fallen  but  for  the 
outstretched  hand  of  the  King,  which  caught  her. 

"Enough  of  this  folly,"  cried  His  Majesty's 
voice.  "  Chamberlain,  bid  every  one  unmask  ! " 

The  diversion  which  these  words  made  gave 
Penelope  time  to  recover  herself,  so  that  when  she 
too  withdrew  her  mask,  her  color  and  her  self- 
command  had  both  come  back.  But  when  on 
279 


White  Aprons. 

looking  up  she  recognized  in  the  unmasked  sooth 
sayer  the  man  who  had  stood  in  her  uncle's 
dining-room  only  a  fortnight  since,  she  was  nearly 
overcome  once  more. 

"Your  Majesty,"  said  Buckingham,  returning 
Penelope's  gaze  of  surprise  with  a  look  of  amuse 
ment,  "  here  is  the  young  Virginia  damsel  for 
whom  I  craved  a  card  to  your  mask  to-night." 

"  By  Heaven  !  and  't  is  the  original  of  Kneller's 
'  Spring '  also.  Those  bright  eyes  have  won  two 
knights  at  once.  Well  done,  Villiers!"  cried 
the  King,  who  seemed  to  Penelope  quite  trans 
formed  by  the  smile  which  lighted  up  his  face, 
"ye  had  always  good  taste  in  women,  — far  better, 
to  our  thinking,  than  in  men." 

At  this  Buckingham  looked  suddenly  abashed, 
though  Penelope  knew  not  why. 

"Young  lady,"  continued  the  King,  graciously 
turning  to  Penelope,  "be  ye  '  Spring'  or  '  Virginia,' 
or  some  fair  unknown  visitor  from  our  provinces 
over  sea,  ye  are  welcome  to  your  mother  country ! 
And  is  your  father  with  you  ?  " 

"  Nay,  Your  Majesty,"  answered  Penelope, 
hardly  able  from  fright  to  utter  a  word  "  my 
mother  was  too  ill  to  permit  his  leaving  her." 

"  Ah,  then,  't  is  your  brother  perchance  who  hath 
been  your  guardian  ?  " 

280 


Penelope  goes  to   Court. 

"  Alas,  Your  Majesty,"  answered  Penelope,  "  I 
have  no  brother." 

"Neither  father  nor  brother!"  exclaimed  the 
King.  "It  must  be  pressing  business  indeed  that 
brings  a  young  maid  three  thousand  miles  alone. 
To  whose  charge  prithee  did  you  come,  for  I  sup 
pose  ye  dwell  not  alone  in  London  ?  " 

"  I  am  come  to  the  care  of  mine  uncle,  who  is 
come  hither  with  me  to-night,  and  who  stands  near 
the  wall  yonder.1' 

"Ah,  yes,  yes,  I  do  recall  now,"  began  His 
Majesty,  when  a  lady  who  stood  near  him,  very 
handsome,  but  bold  of  eye  and  bare  of  bosom,  said, 
addressing  Penelope  with  scant  courtesy  of  tone 
or  manner,  "  How  dare  ye  come  across  the  ocean, 
and  to  the  very  door  of  the  Court,  with  no  better 
guardian  ?  " 

"  Pray,  Madam,"  answered  Penelope,  lifting 
her  clear  eyes  full  upon  the  speaker,  "  what  harm 
could  befall  me  at  Court  ?  Is  not  the  AVw^here  ?  " 

Penelope  was  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  the  effect 
of  her  words  ;  but  she  feared  there  was  something 
sadly  out  of  the  way  in  them,  for  she  saw  the 
ladies  hide  their  faces  behind  their  fans,  and  the 
gentlemen  bite  their  mustachios  and  stare  hard  at 
the  toes  of  their  boots,  while  the  Duke  of  Buck 
ingham  shook  with  laughter,  and  whispered  to  his 
281 


White  Aprons. 

next  neighbor,  "  The  Duchess  hath  caught  it  fair 
from  the  little  savage,  —  she  'd  best  not  meddle 
with  her  again.  Besides,  my  Lady  hath  need  to 
mark  her  words  carefully,  for  she  can  no  longer 
take  such  liberties  with  the  King  as  when  she  was 
the  Countess  of  Castlemaine." 

Only  His  Majesty  kept  the  gravity  of  his  face 
unmoved,  and  replied  still  more  kindly  to  Penelope, 
"  Ay,  ye  have  said  aright,  —  the  King  is  here  and 
ye  have  naught  to  fear.  Now  gentlemen,"  he 
added  turning  to  those  around,  "  choose  your  part 
ners  for  the  brantle.  Buckingham,  bid  the  mu 
sicians  strike  a  tune!" 

With  this  there  was  much  moving  to  and  fro. 
Very  noble  the  procession  was,  and  a  great  pleas 
ure  to  see;  but  there  were  two  in  that  hall  who 
gave  it  little  heed,  those  left  thus  for  an  instant 
alone  together,  —  the  man  who  ruled  it  all,  and  the 
little  rustic  who  looked  on  it  for  the  first  time :  yet 
somehow  Penelope  feared  the  King  least  of  all. 

"Tell  me,"  he  said  in  a  voice  which  of  itself 
gave  her  courage,  so  kind  was  it,  "is  it  some 
sorrow  that  hath  driven  you  thus  over  seas,  my 
child  ?  Your  face  is  too  sad  for  one  so  young,  and 
surely  you  have  ne'er  made  such  a  journey  without 
grave  occasion." 

"  The  time  and  place,  Your  Majesty,"  answered 
282 


Penelope  goes  to   Court. 

Penelope,  "  scarce  befit  my  sad  story,  else  would  I 
crave  the  boon  of  laying  it  before  you." 

The  maid  choked  and  could  say  no  more.  "  You 
say  truly,"  said  the  King,  "  that  this  is  neither  the 
time  nor  the  place ;  but  we  will  set  a  time  and  find 
a  place  for  the  hearing.  Mr.  Pepys,"  he  added, 
turning  to  that  gentleman,  who  courtier  like  stood 
just  near  enough  to  catch  what  was  going  for 
ward  without  appearing  to  hear,  "ye  have  twice 
written  asking  permission  to  come  kiss  our  hand. 
Your  petition  is  granted ;  we  will  arrange  an  audi 
ence  both  for  you  and  your  niece.  Let  it  be  to 
morrow  —  stay  —  to-morrow  is  mortgaged  to  the 
ambassadors  of  Spain  and  Sweden.  We  will  say 
Friday  —  no,  Friday  is  unlucky;  and  on  Saturday 
I  go  a-hunting  at  Windsor.  Well,  ye  shall  hear  of 
the  time  later." 

Pepys  would  fain  have  burst  out  with  a  florid 
speech  of  gratitude,  but  the  King  cut  him  short 
and  bade  him  make  ready  to  take  his  niece  in  to 
supper,  whither  he  shortly  led  the  way  with  a  lady 
whose  beauty  was  so  dazzling  that  it  fairly  took 
away  Penelope's  breath.  She  was  dressed  as  Bri 
tannia,  with  a  burnished  helmet  from  which  rose 
a  great  cluster  of  white  ostrich  plumes,  whose 
whiteness  could  not  surpass  the  brow  beneath,  or 
the  neck,  bare  save  for  the  shower  of  raven-black 

283 


White  Aprons. 

curls  which  fell  over  it.  Her  breast-plate  was  of 
beaten  gold,  with  a  group  of  pearls  in  the  centre 
worth  a  man's  ransom,  and  her  mantle  was  caught 
at  the  shoulder  with  a  brooch  of  rubies,  and  the 
sheer  lawn  of  the  sleeve  was  bound  above  the 
elbow  with  a  band  of  gems  which  flashed  in  Pe 
nelope's  eyes  as  the  radiant  vision  passed. 

"  Who  is  she  ?  O  uncle,  who  is  she,  —  that 
lovely  lady,  queenlier  than  the  queen,  whose 
beauty  strikes  me  breathless  ?  " 

"  Ay,  mark  her,"  quoth  Pepys,  as  he  carefully 
gathered  his  robe  over  his  arm  and  prepared  to 
follow  the  procession.  "  Ye  '11  ne'er  see  anything 
to  match  her.  Did  ever  ye  set  eyes  on  such  an 
excellent  faille  or  such  a  complexion  (all  her  own 
too)  ;  and  then  that  sweet  eye  and  little  Roman 
nose,  —  oh,  there  is  none  like  La  Belle  Stuart  in 
the  whole  of  England !  And  yet,  child,  I  heard 
three  gentlemen  say  that  you  were  the  fairer  of  the 
two,  and  that  there  was  none  could  match  you  for 
grace  and  stateliness." 

As  the  procession  moved  into  the  Banqueting 
Hall  with  much  mirth  and  laughter,  Penelope  fell 
to  wondering  how  the  son  of  the  martyred  king 
could  find  heart  to  make  merry  on  the  spot  where 
his  father  had  suffered,  —  ay,  and  gone  forth  to  his 
death  through  that  very  window  now  hung  gayly 
284 


Penelope  goes  to   Court. 

with  lanterns.  As  she  gazed  around  upon  the 
panels  blazoned  with  heraldry,  and  upon  the  great 
oaken  beams  which  supported  the  open-timbered 
roof,  her  mind  was  carried  strangely  back  to  the 
rude  rafters  and  bare  boards  of  the  rough  Court 
House  at  Middle  Plantation.  Yes,  she  could  see 
once  more  the  grim  faces  of  the  fierce  old  Governor 
and  his  counsellors ;  and  the  crowd  of  figures  that 
thronged  around  her  as  she  sat  on  that  Court  House 
bench  seemed  far  more  substantial  than  the  liveried 
lackeys  who  stood  before  her  now,  waiting  to 
bring  her  portions  of  the  pheasants  which  lay  in 
state  on  their  platters  of  gold,  or  of  the  great 
peacock,  which,  with  his  tail  outspread,  decorated 
one  end  of  the  long  board  beneath  the  twinkling 
candles. 

Penelope  raised  her  hand  to  her  brow  as  if  to 
brush  away  the  fog  which  clung  around  her  mind. 
"Which,"  she  wondered,  "is  the  true  Penelope, — 
the  maiden  in  the  prisoner's  dock,  hand  clasping 
hand  with  a  convicted  felon,  or  this  princess  with 
golden  crown  and  sweeping  draperies  at  the  King's 
levee  ?  "  A  conviction  flashed  upon  her,  as  it  does 
on  all  of  us  at  certain  crises,  that  she  was  but  a 
puppet,  made  to  dance  and  laugh  and  sing,  or  to 
kneel  and  weep  and  pray,  according  as  the  hand 
behind  the  scenes  pulled  the  strings.  Thus  she  sat 


White  Aprons. 

silent  and  cast  down,  and  could  touch  no  morsel 
of  the  feast  spread  before  her ;  but  her  uncle  had 
no  such  sentimental  scruples. 

"  'T  is  a  fine  supper,"  quoth  he,  "  a  prodigious 
fine  supper ;  but  the  venison  pasty  is  very  palpable 
beef,  which  is  not  handsome." 


286 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A   PRIVATE   INTERVIEW 

"  Full  little  knowest  thou  that  hast  not  tried 
What  Hell  it  is  in  sueing  long  to  bide, 
To  lose  good  dayes  that  might  be  better  spent, 
To  wast  long  nights  in  pensive  discontent, 
To  speed  to-day,  to  be  put  back  to-morrow, 
To  feed  on  hope,  to  pine  with  feare  and  sorrow." 

ON  the  day  after  the  ball  Penelope  spent  half 
her  time  hanging  out  of  the  little  latticed 
window,  waiting  and  watching  for  a  messenger  who 
never  came.  The  next  day  it  was  as  bad,  and  her 
heart  began  to  lose  its  courage,  and  her  cheek  to 
lose  its  color,  till  at  length  her  uncle  chid  her,  but 
gently,  saying :  "'T  is  little  ye  know  of  Courts,  child, 
else  would  ye  not  expect  the  King  to  be  a  man  of 
business,  who  keeps  his  appointments  clerk-like." 

"But,  Uncle,  he  did  promise." 

"  Oh,  he  did  promise,"  echoed  her  uncle,  jest 
ingly.  "  I  would  have  you  know,  Penelope,  that 
there  be  men  in  London  Tower  with  a  promise  of 


White    Aprons. 

fat  office  in  their  pocket,  and  men  swinging  from 
the  gibbet  who  died  with  promises  ringing  in  their 
ears." 

"  Then,"  cried  Penelope,  flying  out  in  a  passion, 
"  I  say  an  unkept  promise  is  no  better  than  a  lie, 
and  a  lie  is  most  unkingly." 

"  Hush,  hush,  girl !  "  whispered  Pepys,  hastily, 
glancing  at  the  door  to  make  sure  that  no  one  had 
overheard  the  bold  words.  "  The  King  is  the 
King,  and  little  good  comes  of  speaking  evil  of 
those  in  authority.  Have  patience,  and  time  will 
pass  the  quicker." 

"  Have  patience ! "  cried  Penelope,  mockingly, 
and  with  anger  in  her  voice.  "  Oh,  I  am  sick  of 
the  sound  of  the  word.  'T  is  easy  to  say  *  have 
patience,'  but  when  the  horologe  is  ticking  away 
a  man's  life  'tis  a  mean  virtue,  and  little  to  be 
commended  save  to  time-servers." 

It  may  be  that  the  last  word  hit  Mr.  Pepys  a 
little  hard,  for  he  flounced  about  in  his  chair, 
quite  forgetful  of  his  dignity,  and  turned  his  back 
upon  Penelope,  while  she  in  turn  sat  tapping  the 
floor  with  the  heel  of  her  little  slipper,  when  in 
came  Betty  very  opportunely,  bearing  biscuit  and 
wine,  and  on  the  tray  beside  them,  a  letter.  Yes, 
a  letter  from  the  King's  secretary  appointing  an  in 
terview  for  the  morrow  morning  at  eleven  o'-clock. 
288 


A  Private  Interview. 

The  summons  set  Mr.  Pepys  in  good  humor  once 
more,  and  Penelope,  ashamed  of  her  peevishness, 
ran  to  him  and  caught  him  about  the  neck  and 
begged  him  to  forgive  her;  and  so  they  were 
friends  once  more. 

The  next  day  came  at  last,  though  to  one  little 
maid  in  London  it  seemed  that  all  the  clocks  had 
hands  of  lead,  and  that  the  very  sun  stood  still  on 
the  dial  plates. 

"  This  morning  being  Thursday,"  says  Penelope's 
journal,  "we  betook  ourselves  once  more  to  the 
palace  at  Whitehall.  'T  were  idle  to  set  down  my 
feelings;  they  were  past  describing,  almost  past 
realizing.  I  knew  naught  save  that  ye  supreme 
hour  of  my  life  was  come,  and  yet  I  was  tying  my 
hood  and  smoothing  my  bands  even  as  I  had  done 
hundreds  of  times  before,  and  instead  of  finding 
all  things  blurred,  my  senses  did  but  seem  so 
sharpened  that  they  took  note  of  even  the  least 
thing.  My  uncle  chid  me  for  uneasiness  and 
haste  to  be  gone,  but  though  to  me  he  seemed 
slower  than  the  creeping  of  the  muddy  Thames, 
we  did  at  length  set  out,  and  when  we  were  come 
to  ye  palace  it  wanted  yet  a  half  hour  of  the  time 
ye  King  had  set ;  wherfore  to  while  away  ye  un 
easiness  of  waiting,  mine  uncle  drew  me  into  the 
privy  garden,  where  we  did  walk  up  and  down, 
19  289 


White  Aprons. 

sheltered  from  the  wind  and  comfortable  enough 
in  body,  but  I  at  least  much  shaken  in  sole  by  an 
aggony  of  fear  and  anxiety." 

This  garden  wherein  poor  Penelope  walked  up 
and  down  so  shaken  in  "  sole  "  was  the  pride  of  all 
London,  and  especially  of  Mr.  Pepys,  who,  for  all 
he  plumed  himself  so  much  upon  his  knowledge  of 
human  nature,  fancied  now  that  he  could  divert  his 
niece  from  her  sorrow  by  pointing  out  the  windows 
of  the  different  maids  of  honor  and  the  extraordi 
nary  fine  lace  on  the  underclothing  marked  B  V. 
with  a  coronet  above,  which  hung  upon  the  lines 
beneath  the  windows  of  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland. 
Penelope  looked  and  nodded  and  smiled  a  sad 
little  absent  smile,  more  pathetic  than  a  flood  of 
tears. 

Another  turn  in  this  walk  brought  them  to  a  sun 
dial  of  stone  richly  carved  with  vines  and  strange 
intertwining  dragons.  It  had  been  in  its  prime  a 
thing  of  quaint  and  curious  beauty,  but  unluckily, 
in  spite  of  being  surrounded  with  the  protection  of 
an  iron  railing,  it  had  been  broken  by  a  drunken 
gallant  in  some  midnight  brawl,  and  now  was  so 
sunken  and  out  of  shape  that  its  hand  no  longer 
truly  marked  the  hour.  Beneath  its  shattered  face 
some  wag,  who  knew  well  the  foibles  of  Charles's 
Court,  had  written :  — 

290 


A  Private  Interview* 

"  This  place  for  a  dial  was  too  insecure, 
Since  a  guard  and  a  garden  could  not  it  defend; 
For  so  near  the  Court  they  could  never  endure 
Any  witness  to  show  how  their  time  they  misspend." 

As  though  to  show  that  not  all  those  at  Court 
deserved  such  harsh  satire,  the  little  door  at  one 
end  of  the  garden  opened  even  while  Penelope 
and  her  uncle  bent  over  the  dial,  and  a  short  and 
straggling  procession  crossed  the  garden.  First 
came  two  priests,  their  cowls  covering  their  heads, 
and  the  foremost  one  bearing  a  crucifix  of  silver 
and  ebony.  They  were  followed  by  six  little  boys 
in  black  petticoats,  and  what  looked  to  Penelope 
like  white  nightgowns  over,  each  carrying  a  lighted 
taper.  Then  walking  alone  came  the  Queen,  a 
long  veil  covering  her  from  head  to  foot,  and 
giving  to  her  short  figure  a  dignity  which  it  lacked 
in  gayer  dress.  Finally  a  knot  of  Court  ladies  in 
sober  attire  hurried  after,  and  then  the  little  gate 
closed  again  with  another  clang. 

Penelope  had  half  a  mind  as  the  procession 
passed  to  throw  herself  at  the  Queen's  feet  and 
entreat  her  protection  and  intercession.  Indeed 
she  did  take  a  step  forward ;  but  her  uncle,  per 
ceiving  her  intention,  whispered,  "Are  ye  mad? 
The  Queen's  favor  is  the  last  road  to  the  King's. 
Keep  back,  I  say  ! " 

291 


White  Aprons. 

Penelope  wavered,  and  then  stopped  and  drew 
her  veil  closer. 

"  The  Court  is  divided  't  wixt  mass  and  mum 
ming,"  said  Mr.  Pepys,  as  the  gate  closed ;  but  his 
niece  noted  that  he  crossed  himself  as  the  priest 
passed,  and  she  wondered  if  there  were  any  ground 
for  the  charge  of  popery  which  she  had  heard  that 
some  brought  against  him. 

The  shadow  on  the  dial  crept  on,  till  at  length, 
after  a  time  that  seemed  well-nigh  endless,  an 
usher,  very  gorgeously  attired,  approached,  and 
bade  them  follow  him  to  the  King's  presence- 
chamber.  Through  the  grilled  gateway  they 
passed,  and  down  the  long  stone  gallery,  which 
echoed  to  the  sound  of  their  footsteps,  till  at  last 
their  guide  paused  before  a  door  richly  hung  with 
velvet  of  a  deep  purple  color.  This  curtain  being 
softly  drawn  aside  from  within,  they  passed  through, 
and  found  themselves  in  the  royal  ante-chamber. 
A  clerk  seated  at  a  table,  busily  employed  in  sort 
ing  papers,  looked  up  at  their  entrance,  and  bade 
Mr.  Pepys  be  seated,  as  the  King  would  receive 
the  young  lady  first,  and  alone.  Penelope,  looking 
at  her  uncle,  saw  his  face  cloud,  but  whether  with 
anxiety  on  her  behalf,  or  vexation  that  his  own  suit 
should  thus  be  put  off,  she  knew  not. 

For  herself,  robbed  thus  of  the  support  of  his 
292 


A  Private  Interview. 

presence,  she  felt  ready  to  sink  to  the  earth.  Her 
knees  trembled  so,  she  must  needs  grasp  the  folds 
of  the  curtain  which  hung  between  the  presence- 
chamber  and  the  ante-room.  But  the  usher  led 
her  forward,  over  soft  Eastern  carpets,  between  the 
great  porphyry  jars  which  stood  on  either  side  of 
the  doorway,  to  the  table  where  the  King  sat. 
Kneeling  down,  Penelope  kissed  his  hand  in 
silence,  scarcely  able  to  command  herself  enough 
to  utter  a  word.  The  King,  as  if  comprehending 
the  disorder  of  her  mind,  raised  her  gently,  and 
setting  her  in  the  deep-cushioned  velvet  chair  oppo 
site  his  own,  bade  the  lackey  bring  her  a  glass  of 
wine,  that  therein  she  might  find  strength  and  re 
freshment.  He  watched  her  in  silence,  while  her 
trembling  fingers  broke  the  biscuit  and  held  the 
goblet  to  her  lips;  then,  greatly  to  her  relief,  he 
was  graciously  pleased  himself  to  begin  the  con 
versation,  toying  as  he  spoke  with  the  drooping  ears 
of  a  tiny  coal-black  spaniel  which  lay  on  the  table 
beside  him,  its  tail  playing  sad  havoc  with  the  state 
papers  which  were  scattered  in  heaps  about  him. 

"  So,"  began  the  King,  smiling,  "  you  are  come 
all  the  way  from  Virginia.  I  trust  you  are 
not  a  little  rebel  against  the  authority  of  your 
sovereign,  —  not  of  those  who,  as  I  hear,  have 
earned  the  inglorious  title  of  '  White  Aprons '  by 

293 


White  Aprons. 

having  on  one  occasion  taken  shelter  behind  the 
petticoats  of  women."  With  this  the  King  burst 
out  laughing,  and  Penelope  blushed  furiously  as 
she  remembered  how  she  herself  had  been  the  first 
to  cast  the  aspersion. 

"  Nay,  Your  Majesty,"  she  answered,  "  my 
father  served  in  Berkeley's  army,  and  the  Governor 
had  no  stancher  supporter  in  the  colony." 

"And  what  say  they  across  the  water  of 
Berkeley?" 

"  I  trust  I  speak  not  too  much  in  bitterness," 
answered  Penelope,  "  when  I  say  they  do  call  him 
a  hard  man,  tyrannical  to  those  under  him,  and 
passing  cruel  to  a  fallen  foe." 

"  By  the  Lord,  maiden,  I  do  believe  ye  speak  no 
more  than  the  truth.  A  report  of  my  commis 
sioners  hath  lately  reached  me  which  do  vex  me 
sorely.  They  say  he  hath  sacrificed  twenty  victims 
since  Bacon's  death,  —  twenty !  Why,  the  old  fool 
hath  taken  more  lives  in  that  naked  country  than  I 
for  my  father's  murder !  " 

"  And  these,  Your  Majesty,"  urged  Penelope, 
timidly,  "  were  neither  murderers,  nor  even  rebels, 
save  against  the  tyranny  of  Berkeley." 

"  Why,  how  now  !  I  thought  ye  were  of  Berke 
ley's  party  ?  " 

"We  were,  Your  Majesty;  but  certain  things 
294 


A  Private  Interview. 

have  of  late  greatly  changed  our  hearts.  My 
father,  who  ever  inclines  to  mercy,  could  still  bear 
to  see  punishment,  but  not  injustice,  and  so 
wrought  upon  was  he  by  the  sentence  of  one  of  the 
poor  gentlemen  taken  after  Bacon's  death,  and 
doomed  to  die,  but  respited  till  April,  that  he  hath 
vowed  to  save  him  if  he  could,  the  more  that  he 
owed  him  thanks  for  the  saving  of  his  life  at  a 
battle  near  Jamestown,  when  the  sword  was  at  his 
heart.  'T  is  at  my  father's  command  that  I  am 
now  come  over  seas  to  plead  in  turn  for  the  saving 
of  the  life  of  his  preserver.  Oh,  pardon,  I  pray 
you,  pardon  !  "  So  crying,  Penelope  fell  once  more 
upon  her  knees,  her  hand  holding  out  the  petition, 
her  eyes  upturned  in  deepest  supplication. 

As  she  watched  his  face  her  heart  sank,  and  she 
felt  that  she  must  have  plead  her  cause  ill  indeed; 
for  instead  of  melting,  or  showing  aught  of  sym 
pathy,  the  King  only  smiled.  *'  Methinks,"  quoth 
he,  "  you  have  not  yet  given  sufficient  reason  why 
you,  a  maid  scarce  eighteen  summers  old,  if  my  eye 
deceives  me  not,  —  and  it  seldom  plays  me  false  in 
judging  the  age  of  women,  —  why,  I  say,  your  father 
sends  you  alone  and  unprotected  such  a  distance 
upon  such  an  errand.  Were  this  condemned  man 
a  lover  you  could  scarce  do  more  than  brave  such 
difficulties  and  dangers  in  his  behalf." 

295 


White  Aprons. 

At  these  words,  which  showed  but  too  clearly 
that  the  King  had  penetrated  the  disguise  behind 
which  her  heart  had  sought  to  hide,  she  answered 
steadily,  through  all  the  red  rushing  over  neck  and 
cheek  and  brow :  "  I  pray  thee,  Sire,  spare  a 
maiden's  confession.  I  could  scarce,  e'en  had  I 
a  ready  tongue  and  full  command  of  myself,  make 
any  comprehend  the  strange  chances  which  did 
overcome  my  former  enmity.  I  can  but  say  that 
whereas  I  did  once  hold  Bryan  Fairfax  my  dead 
liest  foe,  I  do  now  count  him  most  of  all  the 
world  my  friend  —  my  love." 

Never  in  all  her  life  had  Penelope  looked  so 
beautiful  as  now,  when,  wholly  forgetful  of  herself, 
absorbed  in  her  great  love  and  devotion,  she  knelt 
as  at  an  altar,  pleading  with  liquid  eyes  upturned 
to  her  King,  as  to  her  God.  The  eyes  which 
looked  down  upon  her  took  on  all  at  once  a  new 
look,  an  evil  look,  —  a  look  neither  godly  nor 
kingly. 

"  Do  you  indeed  care  so  much  for  this  pardon  ?  " 
he  asked. 

"  Care  !  "  cried  Penelope.  "  Oh  that  there  were 
any  sacrifice  I  might  be  thought  worthy  to  make 
for  such  a  reward !  " 

"  Why  then,"  said  the  king,  "  I  have  a  mind  to 
try  you." 

296 


A  Private  Interview. 

"Ah!"  exclaimed  Penelope,  "Your  Majesty 
shall  see  how  gratefully  I  do  accept  the  trial.  Ay, 
though  it  be  a  dungeon,  I  will  dwell  there  in  cheer 
fulness  ;  or  a  scaffold,  I  will  die  thanking  and  bless 
ing  your  name." 

"  Nay,  nay,"  answered  the  king,  "  I  would 
scarce  care  to  see  so  much  loveliness  shut  up  in 
the  darkness  of  London  Tower,  nor  yet  untimely 
cut  off  on  Tyburn  Hill.  Trust  me,  the  trial  where 
of  I  spake  was  no  such  killing  matter.  Come, 
my  pretty  one,"  he  cried  with  a  sudden  change  of 
voice  and  manner,  "  let  us  two  strike  a  bargain. 
What  say  you  to  a  pardon  for  your  lover,  and  for 
yourself,  —  the  favor  of  the  King  of  England  ?  " 

Penelope  would  scarcely  have  been  able  to  in 
terpret  the  meaning  of  these  words  had  they  not 
been  accompanied  by  such  an  amorous  glance  as 
brought  back  to  her  her  father's  words  of  warning : 
"  Trust  not  the  gentlemen  of  the  Court,  —  nay,  not 
the  King  himself,  for  with  all  his  virtues  he  holdeth 
women  but  lightly." 

"  Sire,"  she  cried,  "  I  know  you  do  but  jest. 
Could  I  believe  you  for  one  instant  spoke  in  ear 
nest,  I  would  pray  you  tear  the  pardon,  and  I 
would  go  home  and  bid  Bryan  Fairfax  die  on  the 
scaffold,  as  an  honest  man  should,  to  save  the 
honor  of  his  affianced  wife."  As  she  spoke  these 
297 


White  Aprons. 

words  in  her  indignation,  she  rose  to  her  feet  and 
stood  before  the  King  undismayed,  no  longer  a 
suppliant,  but  a  woman. 

The  King,  sovereign  though  he  was,  looked  ill 
at  ease,  and  twisting  about  in  his  chair  began  once 
more  to  play  with  the  spaniel.  As  he  showed  his 
face  it  was  as  if  two  spirits  therein  did  contend  for 
the  mastery.  At  last  the  better  prevailed,  and 
shed  over  his  face  such  a  glow  of  emotion  and 
benignity  as  made  clear  to  Penelope's  mind  the 
love  which  his  subjects  bore  him. 

"  Thou  hast  spoke  bravely,  —  bravely  and  truly, 
my  child,"  said  he,  "  and  '  t  was  ill  done  jesting 
with  a  love  like  thine,  which  will  dare  and  suffer 
all  save  loss  of  honor.  Leave  me  now, —  I  am 
weary,  —  and  bid  thine  uncle  come  next  week.  I 
will  look  over  the  petition  and  will  have  the  secre 
tary  make  out  the  pardon,  which  I  will  straightway 
sign,  and  thou  shalt  have  it  with  no  other  condi 
tion  but  that  thou  do  offer  up  a  prayer  for  thy 
sovereign  in  some  chapel  of  thy  native  wilderness." 

"  Sire  !  "  cried  she,  "  I  will  pray  God  preserve  the 
King,  and  petition  every  night  and  every  morning 
that  Heaven  continue  him  in  his  present  happiness." 

"  Happiness  !  "  said  he,  his  face  darkening,  — 
"  happiness  is  a  word  for  children,  idiots,  and 
angels.  How  should  a  king  look  to  be  happy,  — 
298 


A  Private  Interview. 

least  of  all  a  king  badgered  by  his  wife,  baited  by 
his  ministers,  hated  by  his  creatures,  ruled  by  —  " 

Ere  he  had  uttered  the  last  word,  a  tapestry  in 
one  corner  of  the  presence-chamber  swayed  a  little, 
then  was  raised,  and  beneath  it  stood  the  lady  of 
the  Court,  Barbara  Villiers,  Baroness  of  Nonsuch, 
Countess  of  Southampton,  and  Duchess  of  Cleve 
land.  Her  gown  was  of  brocade,  set  off  with  a 
girdle  stiff  with  precious  stones,  which  shone  forth 
with  double  splendor  as  she  stood  against  the  dark 
folds  of  the  purple  drapery,  one  white  arm,  from 
which  the  sleeve  had  fallen,  raised,  and  revealing 
all  its  tapering  roundness,  ere  she  let  it  slowly 
drop  to  her  side. 

The  King  looked  upon  her,  and,  as  he  looked, 
the  old  sense  of  subjection  which  had  held  him  in 
this  woman's  thrall  for  so  many  years,  from  which 
of  late  he  had  flattered  himself  that  he  was  free, 
returned  with  renewed  power.  She  saw  it  in  an 
instant  and  was  quick  to  push  her  advantage. 

"  It  is  my  hour,  Your  Majesty,"  she  said,  speak 
ing  scarce  above  her  breath,  but  holding  him  by 
the  spell  of  her  eyes. 

The  King  hesitated  a  moment,  looking  first  at 
her,  then  at  the  figure  opposite,  with  its  severely 
simple  drapery,  its  pure  pale  face,  its  proud  eyes, 
and  its  halo  of  red-brown  hair. 
299 


White  Aprons. 

Once  more  the  angels  struggled  within  him,  and 
this  time  the  baser  conquered.  A  hardness  settled 
down  like  a  mask  over  his  face. 

"  Yes,  Madam,"  he  answered,  "  it  is  your  hour. 
Mistress  Payne,  your  audience  is  at  an  end ;  you 
may  withdraw." 

Penelope  noted  nothing  of  the  drama  enacted 
thus  before  her  eyes,  nor  did  she  know  after  what 
fashion  she  withdrew  from  the  presence-chamber,  — 
if  she  walked  or  flew.  All  she  felt  sure  of  was  the 
precious  pardon.  "  Pardon  !  Pardon  !  "  every 
wheel  in  London  echoed  it.  "  Pardon !  Pardon  !  " 
every  oar  beat  time  to  it  in  the  barges  along  the 
Thames.  "  Pardon !  Pardon  !  "  the  church  bells 
rang  it  as  they  sounded  out  the  hours.  Pardon 
for  Bryan  Fairfax ! 


300 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

A    FOY. 

"  A  very  merry,  dancing,  drinking, 
Laughing,  quaffing,  and  unthinking 
Time." 

"  Al\  R.  SAMUEL  PEPYS,  his  compliments  to 
1 V  1  Mr.  John  Dryden  and  wife,  and  begs  the 
honor  of  their  company  at  the  Dog  Tavern,  South- 
wark,  on  Monday  night,  to  a  Foy  given  in  honour 
of  Mistress  Penelope  Payne  before  her  setting  sail 
in  the  *  White  Lady '  for  the  Colony  of  Virginia. " 

Such  pleasure  did  good  Mr.  Pepys  find  in  the 
despatching  of  this  and  other  like  missives,  and, 
indeed,  in  the  whole  preparation  of  this  farewell 
feast,  that  his  niece  could  not  find  it  in  her  heart  to 
tell  him  how  little  it  was  to  her  liking,  or  how  small 
a  zest  had  an  anxious  mind  for  merry-making. 
But  the  pardon,  duly  signed  and  countersigned, 
lay  on  her  breast,  and  that  was  joy  enough  in 
itself.  She  knew,  moreover,  that  though  she  spent 
301 


White  Aprons. 

her  nights  in  tears  and  prayers,  she  could  not 
hasten,  by  one  slow  minute,  the  departure  of  the 
"  White  Lady,"  which  was  to  drop  down  the  Thames 
on  Tuesday  morning,  and  she  bethought  her  that 
she  was  in  duty  bound  to  be  as  cheerful  as  she 
could  in  these  last  hours,  if  only  to  requite  her 
uncle  for  the  kindness  with  which  he  had  taken 
her  and  her  concerns  into  his  care. 

When,  therefore,  he  brought  with  huge  delight 
all  these  billets  to  her,  she  forced  herself  to  smile, 
and  offer  him  thanks  for  the  planning  of  such  a 
festival  in  her  honor.  Privately  she  wondered 
much  that  he  should  hold  the  feast  at  a  hostelry 
rather  than  in  his  own  house ;  for  the  Virginians 
were  so  wont  to  look  upon  their  houses  as  their 
castles,  and  to  bid  both  friends  and  strangers  enter 
at  pleasure  and  make  them  welcome  to  all  within, 
that  they  could  conceive  no  hospitality  outside  its 
walls,  still  less  at  an  "  ordinary,"  which  in  Virginia 
was  a  miserable  shanty  without  even  the  decencies 
of  life.  But  Penelope  was  learning  by  slow  degrees 
that  many  things  in  this  wider  world  were  different 
from  the  ways  of  her  provincial  home. 

Among  the  guests  bidden  to  the  feast,  much  to 
the  maiden's  delight,  were  Captain  and  Mrs.  Ben 
nett.  (Ah,  how  she  gave  thanks  to  Heaven  that 
their  ship  was  stayed  till  now  with  loading,  and 
302 


A  Foy. 

that  the  homeward  voyage  was  not  to  be  under 
taken  with  strangers  ! )  With  them  were  to  come 
Mr.  Godfrey  Kneller,  not  yet  knighted,  and  Mr. 
Dryden,  who  wrote  to  say  that  he  should  do  him 
self  the  honor  to  accept  Mr.  Pepys's  invitation, 
but  that  his  wife  was  ill  and  could  not  be  of  the 
party. 

Sooth  to  say,  Penelope  sorrowed  little  over  the 
prospect  of  her  absence ;  she  felt,  though  she 
could  hardly  tell  why,  that  she  fared  less  well  with 
the  women  than  with  the  men  here  in  this  strange 
new  old  world.  She  counted  it  the  result  of  the 
quaintness  of  her  dress  and  the  uncouthness  of  her 
manners,  which,  as  she  said  to  herself,  are  more 
prone  to  strike  the  quick  eye  of  women  than  the 
duller  perceptions  of  men. 

The  morning  before  the  foy,  it  chanced  that  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham  calhd  at  Seething  Lane, 
ostensibly  on  navy  business  ;  but  the  real  object  of 
his  visit  transpired  ere  long,  for  after  repeating 
much  Court  gossip  anent  the  appearance  of  the  new 
beauty,  who  (so  he  said)  was  counted  to  outshine 
even  the  Duchess  of  Richmond,  and  to  be  the  first 
stranger  that  ever  Lady  Castlemaine  honored  with 
her  jealousy,  he  dropped,  quite  by  accident  as  it  were, 
the  remark  that  he  had  heard  from  Mr.  Dryden 
how  a  foy  was  to  be  held  at  the  Dog  Tavern,  in 

303 


White  Aprons. 

Mistress  Payne's  honor :  but  he  had  told  him  this 
could  not  be,  else  had  he  himself  surely  been  of 
the  number  of  those  bidden. 

"  Nay,  nay,  my  Lord  ! "  answered  Mr.  Pepys 
with  a  fine  bow,  though  looking  a  trifle  taken 
aback,  "  I  should  never  have  dreamed  of  taking 
the  liberty  to  ask  your  Lordship  to  so  poor  a  feast 
as  the  best  *  the  Dog's '  kitchen  can  provide." 

"  Thanks,"  answered  His  Grace,  cheerfully. 
"  Methinks  I  am  like  to  go  to  the  dogs  without 
awaiting  any  bidding  of  thine,  Master  Pepys." 

After  this  he  turned  and  bade  Penelope  farewell 
very  graciously,  wishing  her  a  fair  wind  and  a  safe 
return,  and  that  she  might  find  all  in  Virginia  to 
her  liking,  congratulating  her  upon  her  success, 
and  praying  his  regards  to  his  cousin  by  marriage, 
—  Bryan  Fairfax. 

"  Is  it  too  late,  my  Lord,  to  beg  you  to  favor  us 
with  your  company  at  the  feast  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Pepys,  with  his  hand  upon  his  breast. 

"  I  do  be  much  beholden  by  the  invitation," 
quoth  the  Duke,  laying  his  hand  likewise  upon  the 
ruffles  over  his  heart,  "  and  I  grieve  that  it  comes 
too  late  to  be  accepted,  as  I  am  bound  by  another 
engagement ;  but  I  pray  you  at  your  foy  to  give  one 
toast  from  me  :  *  The  Virginia  Beauty  —  to  our 
eyes  a  meteor  —  in  our  hearts  a  fixed  star.' " 
3°4 


A  Foy. 

With  this,  feeling  perhaps  that  he  had  no  other 
speech  at  hand  so  pat  and  pretty,  and  being  enough 
a  courtier  to  like  to  retire  on  a  success,  he  bowed 
himself  from  the  room,  and  Penelope  ran  away  to 
her  chamber  to  finish  the  packing  of  her  chest. 
Her  heart  was  much  touched  to  find  upon  her  chest 
of  drawers  a  little  worn  pincushion,  made  of  two 
shells  and  a  bit  of  damask  which  she  had  seen  in 
the  housekeeper's  room. 

"  Dear  Mrs.  Fane,"  cried  she,  as  she  heard  the 
housekeeper's  step  outside  the  door,  "  I  cannot 
take  this,  for  I  know  what  store  you  do  set  by  it." 

"  Ay,"  answered  the  old  woman,  the  wrinkles  of 
her  parched  skin  puckering  still  more,  till  her  face 
looked  like  the  skin  of  a  shrivelled  winter  apple, 
"  I  do  in  truth  set  much  store  by  it,  for  't  was  my 
husband  brought  me  the  shells  on  his  last  voyage 
home  from  the  Indies,  and  the  damask  was  given 
me  by  a  lady  from  the  clippings  of  her  wedding- 
gown  ;  but  I  set  more  store  by  thee,  and  I  would 
have  thee  keep  it  to  remember  a  crabbed  old 
woman  whose  heart  hath  been  strangely  soft  like 
to  thee."  At  this,  Penelope,  whose  heart  was  too 
full  for  words,  threw  her  arms  about  Mrs.  Fane's 
neck  and  their  tears  fell  together.  Oh  blessed 
welding  power  of  love  and  sympathy ! 

It  was  six  o'clock  when   Mr.   Pepys  and   his 

20  305 


White  Aprons. 

niece  set  out  by  chair  over  London  Bridge,  and  her 
uncle  pointed  out  to  Penelope  the  spot  where  he 
was  near  to  breaking  his  leg  one  night  through 
falling  in  a  hole  where  no  light  was  set,  and  more 
shame  to  the  watch.  "Nay,  never  shake  that 
pretty  head  of  thine,  Penelope ;  't  was  not  the 
unsteadiness  of  my  legs  that  did  bewray  me,  for 
though  I  had  in  truth  passed  the  evening  at  a 
supper,  't  was  gave  by  a  man  too  mean  to  provide 
enough  liquor  to  make  his  guests  drunk  withal." 

"  Indeed,  dear  Uncle,  I  thought  no  such  thing," 
said  Penelope,  who  in  truth  had  come  to  the  habit 
of  smiling  and  nodding  her  head  and  even  saying 
"  yea  "  and  "  nay  "  by  rote  and  quite  at  random ; 
which  ordinarily  mattered  little,  for  to  Master 
Pepys  the  sound  of  his  own  voice  was  so  sweet  a 
music  that  it  quite  shut  out  the  sound  of  another's, 
and  a  listener  was  but  a  target  to  be  hit  or  missed 
by  his  discourse. 

The  great  fire  had  destroyed  so  many  houses 
that  there  were  some  desolate  places  to  be  passed, 
and  Penelope's  heart  was  in  her  mouth  for  fear  of 
footpads  and  highwaymen.  Glad  was  she  as  they 
passed  up  High  Street  and  neared  Kent  Road, 
when  the  cheerful  lantern  of  the  Dog  Tavern 
gleamed  full  in  sight,  and  the  fresh  painted  sign 
with  its  couchant  dog,  which  had  taken  the  place 
306 


A  Foy. 

of  the  old  tabard,  told  them  that  they  had  arrived 
at  the  famous  hostelry.  Though  the  new  front, 
raised  since  the  fire,  detracted  somewhat  from  its 
ancient  look,  yet  it  was  the  same  old  Tabard  Inn 
at  which  the  Canterbury  pilgrims  had  gathered, 
and  it  was  in  the  Pilgrims'  Room  that  the  table 
was  set,  and  on  the  gallery  over  it  hung  a  faded 
picture  of  that  other  feast  held  here  by  the  pil 
grims  before  their  setting  forth.  Though  the  room 
was  private,  the  door  stood  open  into  the  main 
hall,  where  there  was  much  coming  and  going  of 
men  and  maids. 

Presently  in  came  Mr.  Dryden,  very  gay,  in  a 
purple  velvet  coat  and  flowered  waistcoat;  Mr. 
Godfrey  Kneller,  still  finer,  in  a  vest  of  white  satin, 
the  King's  artist  medal  on  his  breast,  and  over  his 
shoulder  a  short  cavalier  cloak  of  crimson  velvet, 
lined  also  with  white  satin  and  tied  with  silken 
tassels,  very  handsome. 

"  Faith,"  whispered  Pepys,  "  it  vexes  me  that  I 
did  wear  this  sad-colored  suit  when  the  rest  be  so 
fine." 

"  Heed  it  not,  dear  Uncle,"  said  Penelope,  jest 
ingly  ;  "  they  may  count  thee  in  half-mourning  for 
the  loss  of  thy  niece." 

"Tis  true.  Thou  sayest  well,"  he  answered, 
taking  all  quite  gravely. 

307 


White  Aprons. 

At  this  point  in  bustled  Captain  Bennett  and  his 
spouse,  —  he  in  rough  suit  of  Frisian  cloth,  plain 
and  blunt,  like  the  bluff  sailor  he  was ;  but  his 
wife  with  a  hint  of  finery  in  her  apparel,  and  a 
somewhat  mincing  gait,  which  must  not  be  set 
down  to  her  discredit,  for  many  a  woman  changes 
her  walk  to  suit  her  company. 

"  Ah,  my  child,"  she  exclaimed,  kissing  Penelope 
on  both  cheeks,  "  it  was  like  thee  not  to  forget 
thine  old  friends  for  all  thy  fine  new  ones.  In 
sooth,  I  see  thee  still  just  thy  simple  self." 

"  Indeed,  Mrs.  Bennett,  if  I  am  still  myself  't  is 
no  credit  to  me,  but  only  that  I  know  not  how  to  be 
any  one  else ;  and  of  a  truth,  the  more  I  see  of  this 
strange  new  world  the  more  I  cling  to  old  friends, 
tried  and  true,  like  you  and  the  captain,  —  and 
when  I  think  of  resting  my  eyes  once  more  on  the 
blue  line  of  the  Virginia  shore,  and  sailing  in 
between  the  two  capes  and  through  the  broad  bay, 
and  up  the  yellow  James  to  the  little  wharf  —  " 

As  she  reached  these  words  the  girl's  voice 
faltered  suddenly  and  broke  ;  and  her  eyes,  which 
had  been  set  in  a  wide,  far-seeing  gaze,  like  a 
mystic  in  a  trance,  suddenly  ceased  from  their 
vision,  as  if  the  future  were  too  joyful  or  too 
dreadful  to  look  upon,  and  the  tears  welled  up  in 
their  brown  depths,  and  stood  for  a  moment  like 
308 


A  Foy. 

a  diamond  fringe  on  the  curling  length  of  her 
eyelashes ;  but  at  the  instant  Mr.  Pepys  came  to 
them  and  made  his  best  bow  to  Mrs.  Bennett,  who 
answered  it  with  a  courtesy  she  had  learned  of  a 
lady's  maid,  who  had  caught  it  from  a  duchess. 
And  so,  all  being  ready,  the  party  sat  down,  —  Pene 
lope  at  the  head  of  the  table  next  her  uncle,  Mr. 
Dryden  next  her,  and  Mrs.  Bennett  next  her  uncle 
Pepys,  then  Godfrey  Kneller  and  Captain  Bennett 
on  either  side;  but  the  great  oaken  table  was  so 
long  the  party  only  half  filled  it,  and  the  candles 
being  all  set  at  one  end,  Penelope  could  fancy  that 
end  which  was  half  hidden  in  darkness  to  be  filled 
with  shadowy  pilgrims  with  the  poet  at  their  head. 
She  spoke  her  thoughts  to  her  next  neighbor. 

"Ay,  of  a  truth,"  answered  Mr.  Dryden,  "  I  can 
see  them  all,  —  their  humors,  their  features,  and 
their  very  dress,  as  distinctly  as  if  they  supped 
with  us  here  at  the  Tabard  to-night." 

None  took  up  his  words;  for  all  save  Penelope 
were  giving  more  heed  to  the  table  than  to  the  talk. 
The  first  dish  that  was  set  on  was  of  marrow  bones, 
and  this  was  followed  by  three  pullets  and  a  neat's 
tongue,  with  two  dozen  larks,  all  in  a  dish;  and 
when  it  seemed  as  though  none  could  eat  more,  the 
maid  came  again  from  the  kitchen  bearing  a  flam 
ing  pudding  alight  with  brandy.  To  wash  all 

3°9 


White  Aprons. 

down  withal,  there  were  both  Fayal  and  Canary, 
which,  for  her  part,  Penelope  scarcely  tasted ;  but 
the  gentlemen  swallowed  such  mighty  draughts 
thereof  as  shortly  loosened  their  tongues  so  that  all 
went  merrily  enough.  Mr.  Pepys,  who  had  brought 
his  violin,  now  stood  up;  and  after  much  pecking  at 
the  strings  as  I  have  seen  a  woodpecker  tap  at  the 
bark  of  a  tree,  he  tucked  it  under  his  chin,  and 
drawing  his  bow,  set  it  first  to  jigging  merrily  and 
then  to  sobbing  plaintively  (for  of  a  truth  he  was  a 
rare  musician),  till  Penelope  found  it  hard  to  keep 
back  the  too  ready  tears. 

Next,  he  would  have  Penelope  sing  "Gaze  not 
on  Swans"  and  after  that  "Beauty  Retire"  and 
then  "  Love  -will  find  out  the  Way"  which  she 
did  not  like,  for  the  place  seemed  to  her  too  public, 
and  the  more  so,  that  while  she  was  singing 
there  came  into  the  room  two  strangers  having  on 
masks  and  long  dominos,  —  one  black,  one  purple, 
—  which  covered  them  close  from  head  to  foot, 
so  there  was  no  recognizing  them.  She  was 
frightened,  and  would  have  stopped  short ;  but  her 
uncle  whispered  to  her  to  take  no  notice,  for  that 
it  was  naught  out  of  the  common  for  gentlemen  to 
wander  about  thus  unknown,  to  pick  up  whatever 
of  fun  and  merriment  might  be  going  at  the  various 
taverns  of  the  town. 

310 


A  Foy. 

So  she  went  on,  though  somewhat  falteringly,  for 
seeing  these  muffled  forms  standing  there  in  the 
doorway.  But  her  heart  was  in  the  words,  and 
found  its  way  to  her  voice,  moving  her  hearers  as 
only  the  soul  behind  the  voice  can  do  for  all  the 
art  in  the  world. 

"  You  may  train  the  eagle 
To  stoop  to  your  fist 
Or  you  may  inveigle 
The  phoenix  o'  the  East  — 
The  lioness  ye  may  move  her 
To  give  o'er  her  prey  ; 
But  you  '11  ne'er  stop  a  lover  — 
He'  11  find  out  the  way." 

What  was  her  surprise,  as  she  sang,  to  hear  the 
tinkling  notes  of  some  strange  instrument,  and  to 
see  one  of  the  masked  visitors  leaning  against  the 
frame  of  the  doorway  draw  from  under  his  cloak  a 
mandolin  and  touch  the  strings  thereof  to  so  sweet 
a  harmony  with  the  voice  of  the  singer  as  drew 
forth  a  great  clapping  of  hands  from  the  company 
when  the  two  had  finished. 

"  Come  in,  gentlemen,  whoever  you  be,"  cried 
Mr.  Pepys.  "  I  love  you  already  for  your  music's 
sake,  and  a  good  tune  doth  richly  merit  a  good 
supper.  Sit  ye  down,  therefore,  and  I  will  order 
plates  set  for  you." 

3" 


White  Aprons. 

"We  thank  you,  worthy  master,  and  we  do 
accept  the  invitation  as  heartily  as  'tis  offered 
withal."  So  spoke  the  companion  of  the  mandolin 
player,  and  straightway  both  took  chairs  opposite 
Penelope  and  sat  them  down. 

When  they  were  seated,  Mr.  Pepys  toasted  the 
"  White  Lady  "  and  her  gallant  Captain,  to  which 
all  drank  with  a  right  good  will.  Captain  Bennett 
rose  in  his  place,  his  cheek  red  with  honest  blushes 
and  his  nose  with  honest  Canary.  "  Damme  !  "  he 
cried,  striving  to  swear  away  his  embarrassment. 
"  I  have  no  skill  to  make  speeches ;  but  by  the 
Lord,  I  thank  ye  all,  and  if  ever  any  one  of  you  is 
minded  to  make  a  voyage  on  the  *  White  Lady,' 
there's  a  berth  at  your  service, — yes,  damme, 
there  is."  Thumping  another  emphasis  with  his 
fist,  the  Captain  sat  down,  greeted  by  another 
round  of  cheers,  and  much  clinking  of  goblets  set 
down  noisily  on  the  board. 

When  they  had  finished,  Mr.  Dryden  arose  with 
much  ceremony,  and  bowing  like  a  mandarin  to 
each  of  the  company  in  turn,  he  drew  from  his 
pocket,  and  asked  permission  to  read  aloud,  a  neat 
copy  of  verses  addressed  to  Penelope,  —  stanzas 
wherein  she  was  committed  to  the  care  of  the 
ocean  nymphs,  and  they  were  warned  that  they 
must  play  no  tricks  with  so  precious  a  freight,  nor 
312 


A  Foy. 

let  loose  wind  or  wave  till  she  was  set  in  safety  on 
her  native  shore. 

"  Call  ye  this  stuff  poetry  ?  "  whispered  one  of 
the  masks  to  his  comrade.  "  I  have  a  fellow 
in  my  service  could  reel  you  off  better  by  the 
yard." 

Penelope  marvelled  much  at  the  stranger's  inci 
vility,  and  felt  mightily  tempted  to  let  him  know 
who  it  was  whom  he  was  criticising  with  such 
ignorant  freedom.  Mr.  Pepys  too,  whose  ear 
appeared  to  grow  the  sharper  as  his  eye  grew  dull, 
must  have  caught  the  whispered  words,  for  he 
turned  to  the  new-comer,  and  said  with  a  tone  of 
ill-suppressed  irony,  — 

"  Perchance,  Sir  Mask,  you  who  seem  so 
good  a  judge  of  poetry  will  give  us  some  verses  in 
honor  of  Mistress  Penelope  Payne,  the  young  lady 
for  whom  we  hold  the  foy  to-night." 

"Why,  so  I  will,  with  pleasure,"  answers  the 
Mask,  as  bold  as  brass,  "  an  ye  will  give  me 
permission  to  sing  it;  for  I  have  oft  heard  lines  go 
well  enough  to  the  accompaniment  of  the  lute 
which  had  sounded  monstrous  flat  without." 

With  this  he  rose,  and  drawing  his  cloak  close 
about  his  wrist  as  one  who  fears  his  dress  may 
betray  him,  he  began  :  — 


White  Aprons. 

"  What  a  dull  fool  was  I 
To  think  so  gross  a  lie 
As  that  I  ever  was  in  love  before. 
I  have  perhaps  known  one  or  two 
With  whom  I  was  content  to  be 
At  that  which  they  call  keeping  company. 
But  after  all  that  they  could  do 
I  still  could  be  with  none ; 
Their  absence  never  made  me  shed  a  tear, 
And  I  can  truly  swear 
That,  till  my  eyes  first  gazed  on  you, 
I  ne'er  beheld  the  thing  I  could  adore." 

So  soft  was  the  tone  of  the  singer's  voice  and 
so  intent  the  gaze  he  bent  upon  Penelope  that  she 
hung  her  head  and  knew  not  where  to  look ;  but 
the  others  all  clapped  hands,  and  with  one  voice 
(save  for  Mr.  Dryden)  cried,  "Go  on!"  The 
stranger,  so  urged,  continued :  — 

"  She  that  would  raise  a  noble  love  must  find 
Ways  to  beget  a  passion  for  her  mind  : 
She  must  be  that  which  she  to  be  would  seem, 
For  all  true  love  is  founded  on  esteem. 
She  must  be  —  what  said  I  ?  — she  must  be  you, 
None  but  yourself  that  miracle  can  do." 

Then  he  made  an  end,  and  waving  Penelope  a 
mighty  fine  salute,  he  sat  down. 

"  Bravo  !  "  cried  Kneller.  "  'T  is  as  pretty  a 
love-song  as  ever  I  heard." 

"  Sir,  whoever  you  be,"  quoth  Mr.  Pepys,  **  you 
do  my  niece  honor  by  your  verses,  which  need  not 

3M 


A  Foy. 

the  setting  off  of  your  music  to  make  them  worthy 
of  our  best  poets." 

Mr.  Dryden  coughed  dryly,  and  looked  a  trifle 
vexed  that  the  lines  of  the  unknown  so  far  out 
shone  his,  as  of  a  truth  they  did. 

"Very  pretty,  very  pretty,  Mr.  Domino,"  said  he 
at  last.  "  I  will  borrow  them  for  my  new  play, 
and  put  them  into  the  mouth  of  a  callow  stripling 
fresh  from  school,  who  thinks  women  are  to  be 
won  by  lollipops  and  sweet-meat  songs." 

"  So  you  shall  —  so  you  shall,"  answered  the 
singer  with  a  grand  bow,  "though  it  is  a  quaint 
conceit  to  make  a  stripling  the  best  speaker  in 
the  play." 

At  this  Mr.  Dryden  looked  so  black  that  Mr. 
Pepys  made  haste  to  divert  the  conversation  by 
saying :  "  Penelope,  my  dear,  't  is  for  you  to  give 
us  a  toast." 

"  Then,"  said  Penelope,  looking  down  shyly,  and 
then  up  with  a  wonderful  tremulous  sweetness  which 
won  all  hearts,  "it  cannot  be  a  merry  one;  but  I 
will  ask  you,  friends,  as  you  bear  me  good  will,  to 
drink  to  the  health  of  one  who  lies  this  night  be 
hind  prison  bars  under  sentence  of  death,  but 
to  whom  under  God,  and  with  the  guidance  of 
Captain  Bennett  in  his  good  ship  *  White  Lady,' 
I  go  with  the  message  of  pardon  and  release. 

315 


White  Aprons. 

"  I  give  you  Bryan  Fairfax  /  " 

The  toast  was  drunk  most  heartily,  and  scarcely 
were  the  goblets  drained  when  the  tall  stranger,  — 
not  he  of  the  lute,  but  his  comrade,  —  rising,  said  : 

"  Good  people,  I  too  will  give  you  a  toast  ere  I 
leave.  I  ask  you  to  drink  the  health  of  the  brave 
maiden  who  hath  come  three  thousand  miles  alone 
in  search  of  this  pardon,  ay,  and  braved  greater 
perils  than  she  herself  may  ever  guess  to  gain  it. 
Stand  up  and  drink  the  health  of  Mistress 
Payne  ! " 

There  was  somewhat  in  the  stranger's  manner 
which  bent  all  to  his  will,  and  without  any  knowing 
how  it  came  to  pass,  his  rising  was  the  signal  for 
the  company  to  rise ;  and  though  all  were  burning 
with  curiosity  to  learn  who  he  was  and  whence  he 
came,  and  how  he  chanced  to  know  so  much  of  the 
party,  none  dared  question  him. 

The  goblets  were  set  down,  having  been  all 
drained  to  the  last  drop,  and  there  was  a  general 
move  toward  the  donning  of  hats  and  cloaks  and 
hoods  amid  much  laughter  and  merriment. 

Under  cover  of  the  general  confusion,  the  two 
dominos  drew  near  Penelope.  "  Your  fortune  has 
fallen  out  even  better  than  I  foretold  the  other 
evening  at  Whitehall ;  —  the  soothsayer  wishes 
you  joy."  So  spoke  the  mandolin-player,  and 


A  Foy. 

moved  swiftly  out  of  sight.  His  companion  fol 
lowed,  and  bent  low  to  kiss  Penelope's  hand.  As 
he  did  so,  he  slipped  upon  her  wrist  an  armlet 
clasped  with  a  true  lover's-knot  set  in  diamonds, 
and  in  her  ear  he  whispered :  "  As  thou  hast  been 
true  to  thy  lover,  be  true  also  to  thy  promise  to  the 
King.  Pray  for  him  !  Perchance  to  that  interces 
sion  at  the  throne  of  the  King  of  kings  he  may  owe 
his  pardon  hereafter." 

Scarcely  had  Penelope  had  time  to  take  in  the 
words  he  was  speaking  ere  he  had  slipped  out  into 
the  night,  whither  his  companion  had  gone  before. 
With  much  mirth  and  some  sadness  the  rest  made 
their  adieux,  and  so  late  had  they  tarried  that  it  was 
nearly  midnight  when  Mr.  Pepys  and  his  niece  were 
set  down  at  their  own  door  in  Crutched  Friars. 
Godfrey  Kneller  had  come  with  them,  his  home 
ward  way  lying  with  theirs ;  and  when  they  parted, 
Penelope  thanked  him  with  tears  for  the  service 
he  had  done  her.  Mr.  Pepys  begged  him  to  come 
in.  The  hour  being  so  late,  however,  he  would 
not;  but  he  told  Penelope,  smiling,  that  he  was 
the  least  bereft  of  all  those  she  was  leaving,  since 
he  would  still  be  able  to  look  at  the  picture  of 
Mistress  "  Spring,"  and  fancy  the  original  sitting 
there  in  the  great  oak  chair  beneath  the  window 
in  his  studio.  So  he  spoke  his  farewell,  and  Mr. 

317 


White  Aprons. 

Pepys  and  his  niece  went  into  the  little  house  in 
Seething  Lane  together  for  the  last  time. 

"  Good  night,  Penelope,  and  God  bless  thee ! " 
said  her  uncle,  taking  her  head  between  his  hands 
and  kissing  her  on  the  forehead  with  much  tender 
ness,  wishing,  it  maybe,  that  Heaven  had  bestowed 
on  him  a  daughter  who  could  be  to  him  for  life 
what  this  maid  had  been  for  a  few  weeks.  But 
Mr.  Pepys  was  a  practical  man,  and  his  moods  of 
sentiment  rarely  lasted  long. 

"  Thou  art  a  good  girl,"  he  said.  "  I  am  loath  to 
part  with  thee,  and  I  do  not  grudge  thee  thy  foy, 
though  it  cost  me  two  pounds  seven  shillings  (the 
extra  shillings  being  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
masks).  Troth,  I  would  give  as  much  more  to 
discover  who  they  were  !  People  of  importance  I 
dare  be  sworn  from  their  bearing ;  and  when  the 
cloak  of  the  mandolin-player  slipped  I  did  catch  a 
glimpse  of  some  huge  noble  lace  at  his  wrist." 

Penelope  flushed  guiltily,  but  the  secret  being 
none  of  hers  she  felt  it  wrong  to  say  aught  of  the 
matter ;  so  hiding  her  armlet  closer  beneath  her 
cloak  she  returned  her  uncle's  good  night  and  ran 
upstairs  to  her  chamber  and  sat  herself  down  to 
write  a  last  entry  in  her  journal.  Thus  it  read : 

"  Monday  night.  So  will  I  set  it  down,  though 
't  were  nearer  the  truth  to  write  it  Tuesday  morn- 


A  Foy. 

ing,  foi  the  bellman  hath  just  cried  beneath  my 
window,  *  Past  one  o'clock,  and  a  cold,  frosty, 
windy  morning.'  My  candle  burns  low,  and  I 
must  make  haste  to  set  down  the  things  (many  of 
them  too  strange  almost  for  belief)  that  have 
happed  on  this,  my  last  night  in  England.  Day 
will  soon  break,  —  a  new  day  leading  toward  the 
new  world.  Thank  God,  Bryan,  it  leads  me 
toward  thee ! " 


319 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

APRIL    TWENTY-THIRD. 

"One  moment  in  Annihilation's  waste, 
One  moment  of  the  well  of  life  to  taste  — 
The  stars  are  setting,  and  the  caravan 
Starts  for  the  dawn  of  Nothing.     Oh,  make  haste  !  " 

ON  the  twenty-third  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  sixteen  hundred  and  seventy-seven, 
the  sun  rose  over  the  Old  Dominion  as  clear  and 
bright  as  though,  in  all  the  realms  his  rays  shone 
on,  there  were  no  such  things  as  tears  or  clouded 
lives  or  broken  human  hearts.  It  was  a  spring 
day,  and  a  spring  day  such  as  can  be  found  ir  Vir 
ginia  alone.  The  sky  brooded  above  the  earth, 
the  air  was  a  caress,  the  warm  ground  thrilled  with 
the  quickening  of  the  green  things  hid  in  her 
bosom  ready  to  bourgeon  and  blossom  in  a  few 
more  days. 

Strange  paradox  !     All  this  sweetness  and  bright 
ness  was  but  the  background  of  a  scene  of  suffer 
ing,  and  the  sad  trappings  of  a  humiliating  death. 
320 


April  Twenty- third. 

As  Bryan  Fairfax  looked  forth  from  the  barred 
window  of  his  prison  in  the  midst  of  the  ruins  of 
Jamestown,  he  felt  a  sudden,  bitter  pang  that 
Nature  should  thus,  as  it  were,  hold  high  festival 
on  the  day  of  his  death.  But  to  one  man  in  the 
colony  it  seemed  altogether  fitting  that  the  day 
should  rise  in  unclouded  brightness,  —  for  was  it 
not  the  day  of  his  final  triumph  and  revenge? 

Sir  William  Berkeley  had  resolved  that  Bryan 
Fairfax  should  hang.  He  would  listen  neither 
to  entreaties  nor  expostulations  on  that  subject. 
The  man  who  had  turned  the  tide  in  the  field  at 
Gloucester  (for  that  too  had  come  to  the  Gover 
nor's  ears),  who  had  secured  the  safely  hidden 
commission  for  Bacon,  who  had  beyond  a  per- 
adventure  planned  his  own  taking  off  (of  this  he 
would  admit  no  shadow  of  doubt),  —  that  man 
must  die.  But  Fairfax  once  dead,  Berkeley  was 
resolved  to  play  the  role  of  father  of  the  people. 
Nay,  he  had  even  prepared  a  proclamation  of 
general  amnesty  to  be  read  from  the  scaffold,  so 
that  the  remainder  of  the  day  following  the  execu 
tion  should  be  given  up  to  popular  rejoicing;  and 
if  there  were  those  who  of  late  had  murmured 
against  the  harshness  of  the  government,  their 
voices  should  be  swallowed  up  in  the  shouts  and 
acclamations  of  the  crowd. 
21  321 


White  Aprons. 

So  carefully  had  the  Governor  planned  all  this, 
that  as  the  time  drew  near,  he  began  to  feel  a 
nervous  dread  lest  something  should  go  wrong,  and 
his  revenge  and  his  pardon  alike  slip  through  his 
fingers.  For  the  last  fortnight  he  had  scanned  the 
surface  of  the  river  the  first  thing  each  morning 
and  the  last  each  evening,  dreading  lest  he  should 
see  thereon  the  broad,  square  sails  of  a  bark  from 
over  seas.  Once,  indeed,  a  ship  appeared,  of  such 
a  size  that  a  fear  smote  him  that  Penelope  Payne 
might  be  standing  on  her  deck  with  the  King's 
pardon  held  like  a  white  dove  in  her  hand.  But 
the  vessel  proved  to  be  only  a  thick-set,  round- 
sterned,  tub-like  packet  from  the  colony  of  New 
Netherland,  and  Sir  William  breathed  freely  once 
more.  For  his  further  consolation  the  coast  had 
been  harassed  by  heavy  storms,  which  must,  as  he 
thought,  have  beaten  back  any  vessel  coming  this 
way,  or  at  least  stayed  her  on  her  course. 

This  morning,  as  he  stood  upon  the  bank  and 
saw  the  broad  yellow  stream  stretching  from  shore 
to  shore  as  far  as  eye  could  reach,  with  not  so 
much  as  a  pinnace  or  a  canoe  upon  its  bosom, 
and  the  air  above  so  calm  that  no  sail  could  fill  to 
bear  a  vessel  on, — this  old  man,  unconscious  of 
his  blasphemy,  lifted  up  his  voice  and  thanked 
God  aloud  that  his  enemy  was  delivered  into  his 
322 


April  Twenty-third. 

hand.  Nay,  the  very  words  of  holy  writ  did  he 
pervert  to  his  evil  purpose,  saying,  "  I  will  tread  on 
him  in  my  anger,  and  trample  him  in  my  fury,  and 
his  blood  shall  be  sprinkled  upon  my  garments ; 
for  the  day  of  vengeance  is  in  my  heart." 

So  buried  was  he  in  his  thoughts  of  blood  and 
vengeance  that  he  heard  not  the  footsteps  behind 
him  till  he  felt  a  hand  laid  upon  his  arm,  when, 
turning,  he  saw  close  beside  him  the  tall  form  and 
white  head  of  Colonel  Payne. 

"  I  am  favored,  Sir  William,  to  find  you  here, 
for  I  was  about  to  seek  you  at  your  house." 

"  A  visit  from  Colonel  Payne  is  alway  an  honor," 
replied  Berkeley;  but  there  was  little  heart  in  the 
words. 

A  chill  had  fallen  of  late  betwixt  these  two  men 
who  had  been  of  old  such  dear  friends ;  and  when 
a  blight  once  falls  on  friendship,  there  is  no  shower 
save  tears  of  contrition  that  can  revive  it. 

"  It  was  not  a  visit  of  ceremony,  but  on  official 
business,"  said  Colonel  Payne.  "  I  have  already 
in  vain  besought  you  for  the  sake  of  your  own  honor, 
as  well  as  in  the  name  of  mercy,  to  delay  the  sen 
tence  of  this  unfortunate  young  man,  Bryan  Fair 
fax,  till  the  coming  in  of  the  ship,  which  may  be  even 
now  upon  the  ocean,  bearing  the  King's  pardon." 

"  I  do  appreciate  your  zeal  in  his  behalf,  and  I 

323 


White  Aprons. 

might  be  moved  to  grant  your  petition,  and  wish  you 
joy  of  a  future  son-in-law  with  the  smell  o'  James 
City  jail  on  his  garments;  but  I  have  a  duty  to 
the  State." 

Colonel  Payne  reddened  with  anger  at  the  first 
words ;  but  as  he  looked  on  the  Governor's  livid 
face  distorted  with  hatred  and  malice,  and  all  the 
evil  passions  that  spring  up  in  their  train,  he  felt  a 
great  overwhelming  pity  for  this  man  who  had 
once  stood  at  the  parting  of  the  ways,  his  nature 
rich  in  qualities  both  good  and  bad,  and  who 
had  deliberately  turned  away  from  his  better 
nature  and  thrown  the  reins  upon  the  neck  of  his 
baser  passions,  which  were  now  in  a  mad  gallop 
none  could  check.  To  reason  with  him  was  as 
futile  as  to  argue  with  a  madman.  But  Colonel 
Payne  said  quietly :  "  I  can  conceive  no  duty  to 
the  State  which  waits  not  upon  the  King's  will,  and 
methinks  this  obstinacy  smacks  more  of  private 
vengeance  than  of  care  for  the  common  weal." 

The  truth  of  the  accusation  made  it  unbearable. 
Berkeley  writhed  as  if  a  probe  had  been  turned 
in  a  wound.  "  Colonel  Payne  !  "  he  cried  in  fury, 
"an  'twere  not  for  our  old-time  friendship  I'd 
have  you  clapped  into  the  prison  along  side  of 
Bryan  Fairfax  for  such  words  to  the  Governor 
of  the  colony." 

324 


April  Twenty- third. 

"  No  doubt,"  answered  Payne,  coldly.  "  It  were 
quite  of  a  piece  with  your  conduct,  and  would  match 
well.  So  far  ye  have  carried  all  with  a  high  hand, 
but  beware  !  The  King  is  the  father  of  his  people, 
and  they  have  cried  aloud  to  him  of  thy  cruelty ! " 

"  So,"  snarled  Berkeley,  "  that  was  thy  daughter's 
errand,  to  stir  up  anger  against  me  as  well  as  to 
procure  a  pardon  for  her  precious  lover !  I  am 
glad  to  know  it,  and  I  will  take  care  to  make  her 
home-coming  all  it  should  be.  Know,  Theophilus 
Payne,  that  were  I  to  set  sail  for  England  this  day, 
I  would  stay  the  ship  till  I  had  seen  Bryan  Fairfax 
hanged." 

"  Then,"  said  Payne,  "  there  is  no  more  to  be 
said.  I  will^stand  by  Fairfax  on  the  scaffold  as 
though  he  were  mine  own  son,  as  for  my  dear 
daughter's  sake  I  do  verily  count  him.  For  you, 
your  deeds  be  upon  your  head,  and  never,  so  help 
me  God,  will  I  speak  to  you  or  take  you  by  the 
hand  so  long  as  Virginia  shall  hold  us  both." 

The  long  roll  of  the  drum  broke  in  upon  the 
words,  and  Colonel  Payne's  face  grew  ashen  white 
as  he  saw  the  prison  door  open  and  Bryan  Fairfax 
come  forth,  guarded  before  and  behind  by  two 
stout  halberdiers. 

The  four  months  in  prison  had  left  their  traces. 
Fairfax  had  entered  the  jail  a  youth,  —  he  emerged 

325 


White  Aprom. 

a  man.  The  deep  furrows  between  the  eyes  had 
been  drawn  by  the  hand  of  grief ;  yet  the  head 
with  its  weight  of  fair  hair  was  lifted  as  haughtily 
as  of  old.  Neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left  did  he 
turn  as  he  marched  up  the  straggling  village  street 
where  half  a  year  since  he  had  ridden  a  conqueror, 
now  surrounded  by  a  hooting  mob. 

'"Tis  pity  your  General  is  na  with  you  to  see 
the  ruins  o'  the  houses  ye  laid  in  ashes  last  fall," 
cried  one  in  his  ear. 

"  Ay,"  added  a  smoother  tone  on  the  other  side  ; 
"  and  a  pity  Mistress  Payne  cannot  take  in  this 
scene  from  her  ship.  Could  I  have  had  my  say, 
I  would  have  builded  the  scaffold  like  a  light 
house  tower,  and  set  it  where  it  might  be  as  a 
beacon  to  in-coming  vessels." 

The  color  rose  to  the  pale  cheek  of  Fairfax,  and 
his  hands,  bound  with  rope  as  they  were,  fumbled 
nervously  for  his  sword.  But  he  only  lifted  his 
head  the  higher  and  marched  forward  with  firm 
tread  and  steady  eye. 

Ere  he  had  gone  another  rod,  the  place  on  his 
right  was  taken  by  Colonel  Payne. 

44  Courage,  my  lad ! "  quoth  he.  "  I  have 
watchers  posted  on  the  river  bank.  We  have 
three  hours  yet,  and  if  the  ship  heave  in  sight, 
Berkeley  dare  not  proceed." 

326 


April  Twenty-third. 

"  How  say  you,  Colonel  Payne  ?  "  spoke  Arthur 
Thorn  from  the  other  side.  "  *  Dare  not '  are  harsh 
words  to  be  used  anent  an  old  soldier,  and  sure  no 
man  ever  deserved  it  less.  I  will  see  to  it  that  your 
speech  reaches  His  Excellency." 

"  Say  what  you  like,"  answered  the  Colonel. 
"  'T  were  as  hard  to  increase  the  Governor's 
malignity  as  your  poisonous  sycophancy." 

"  Excellent  words  !  "  quoth  Thorn,  his  tawny  face 
mottling  like  the  skin  of  a  snake.  "  Excellent  words, 
—  treason  and  libel  all  in  one.  I  will  find  my  way 
to  Governor  Berkeley  with  them,  and  that  without 
loss  of  time."  With  this  he  took  his  leave,  yet  for 
some  time  hovered  near,  as  loath  even  for  a  moment 
to  lose  sight  of  his  victim. 

"  Colonel  Payne,"  said  Fairfax  when  Thorn  had 
gone,  his  face  for  the  first  time  relaxing  from  its 
stony  composure,  "tell  Penelope  that  I  died  as 
a  soldier  should,  and  that  on  the  very  scaffold, 
looking  death  in  the  face,  the  thought  of  her  love 
made  me  a  proud  and  happy  man." 

The  Colonel  turned  away.  There  was  that  in 
his  throat  which  made  it  impossible  to  utter 
speech.  In  silence,  keeping  step  as  to  a  funeral 
march,  they  went  on  together,  shoulder  to  shoulder. 
Oh,  what  joy  and  comfort  it  brought  afterward 
to  the  heart  of  Penelope  Payne  to  remember  that 

327 


White  Aprons. 

her  father  and  her  lover  were  thus  united  to  the 
very  end  ! 

As  they  drew  near  the  foot  of  the  scaffold  the 
crowd,  attracted  more  by  curiosity  than  hatred, 
grew  thicker.  A  little  lad  stepped  out  from  those 
who  lined  the  road,  and  held  forth  toward  Fairfax 
a  bunch  of  gay  wild-flowers  gripped  tight  in  his 
tiny  chubby  fist;  then  as  he  saw  the  prisoner's 
hands  bound  tight  behind  him  he  cried,  "  Poor 
man  !  thou  canst  not  hold  the  flowers  I  did  gather 
for  thee." 

"  Nay,  little  one,"  answered  Fairfax  with  a  smile 
sadder  than  tears,  "  no  more  flowers  for  me  in  this 
world ;  but  I  thank  thee  none  the  less  for  thy  kind 
intention."  Small  as  was  the  act,  it  shed  a  glow 
over  Fairfax's  downcast  heart  and  with  its  last 
beat  came  a  picture  of  that  childish  hand  out 
stretched  with  its  bunch  of  flowers.  It  was  strange 
how  now  in  his  great  stress  of  mind  his  eye  noted 
every  blossom  and  singled  out  the  white  violet,  the 
wood  anemone,  and  the  hanging  crimson  bell  of 
the  columbine. 

It  was  nine  oVlock,  and  the  sun  already  waxing 
hot,  when  Bryan  Fairfax  took  his  stand  upon  the 
scaffold,  the  cruel  rope  about  his  neck,  that  he 
might  experience  for  three  mortal  hours  the  full 
foretaste  of  the  death  agony. 

3*8 


April  Twenty-third. 

In  full  sight  from  the  scaffold,  in  the  centre  of 
the  village  green,  stood  the  dial ;  and  from  where 
he  stood  Fairfax  could  watch  the  shadow  creep 
along,  and  to  him  it  was  like  the  shadow  of  death 
cast  by  the  sun  of  eternity.  Strange  to  say,  he  had 
no  wish  to  stay  it,  but  would  fain  have  hastened  it 
rather  in  a  kind  of  mad  impatience  to  be  done 
with  it  all  and  learn  the  worst  that  life  (or  death) 
had  in  store  for  him.  Yet  one  thought  ran  under 
and  through  all  his  feelings.  "  Penelope !  Poor 
Penelope  ! " 

The  shadow  on  the  dial  marked  ten. 

A  strange,  trancelike  feeling  had  stolen  over  him. 
He  seemed  to  be  but  one  of  the  crowd  around  the 
scaffold,  and  to  see  himself  as  a  stranger  standing 
there  uplifted  in  ignominy.  He  listened  then  with 
scarce  a  thrill  of  emotion  to  the  murmurs  of  sym 
pathy  which  ran  through  the  throng  of  bystanders, 
mostly  women. 

"  How  handsome  he  is  ! " 

"And  so  young!  " 

"  Ay,  and  his  poor  sweetheart  gone  to  fetch  the 
King's  pardon.  Poor  thing,  she  '11  go  mad  when 
she  finds  she  is  come  too  late,  and  maybe  kill 
herself." 

"  Then  Berkeley  will  have  the  blood  of  two  on 
his  head,  for  'tis  sheer  murder." 

329 


White  Aprons. 

"The  blood  of  two!  Say  rather  of  two  hun 
dred,  —  and  none  knows  whose  turn  will  come 
next.  I  would  the  King  were  here  to  see  what 
things  be  done  in  his  name." 

To  all  this  Fairfax  listened  as  calmly  as  though 
he  had  no  interest  of  special  moment  in  the  dis 
course, —  nay,  all  his  senses  seemed  quickened 
beyond  the  natural.  He  noted  the  dignitaries  on 
the  platform,  —  that  Sir  John  Berry  wore  a  new 
sword-belt,  that  Philip  Ludwell  had  grown  a  mus- 
tachio,  and  that  Governor  Berkeley's  eyes  were 
shot  with  blood,  which  was  not  so  aforetime. 

The  shadow  on  the  dial  marked  eleven. 

Colonel  Payne  paced  up  and  down  like  a  caged 
lion,  his  eye  fixed  in  turn  upon  the  boat  in  the 
river  and  the  man  on  the  shore,  watching,  watch 
ing  for  the  red  flag  which  was  to  be  the  signal  of 
an  approaching  vessel.  Would  it  never  come ! 
Ah,  what  bitter  irony  should  it  come  but  one  hour 
too  late!  Despair  had  settled  black  on  Payne's 
soul ;  yet  still  he  sought  to  cheer  the  other,  bidding 
him  be  of  good  courage,  for  while  there  was  life 
there  was  hope.  But  like  a  running  comment  of 
mockery  on  his  words  were  the  preparations  going 
on  around,  the  hangman  making  ready  and  testing 
the  strength  of  the  beam. 

Now  there  crept  over  Fairfax  a  sharp,  pricking 

330 


April  Twenty -third. 

sense  that  this  was  indeed  the  last  of  earth.  He 
strove  to  give  up  his  heart  wholly  to  God,  and  to 
shut  out  all  thoughts  and  affections  of  this  world ; 
but  spite  of  his  intensest  effort  God  seemed 
shadowy,  strange,  and  far  away,  and  every  pulsa 
tion  of  his  being  throbbed  with  one  word,  one 
thought :  "  Penelope  !  Penelope  !  Penelope  !  " 

The  shadow  on  the  dial  marked  the  half  hour. 

The  moments  slid  away.  A  silence  fell  on  the 
crowd  like  the  calm  which  goes  before  a  storm. 
The  air  was  electric  with  feeling.  — 

"Hark!" 

"Heard  ye  aught?  " 

"  Ay,  of  a  truth,  methought  I  caught  the  sound 
of  flying  hoofs  on  yonder  bridge." 

"  See,  see,  —  't  is  a  woman  who  rides !  " 

"What  if 'twere  — " 

"  Nay  !  Nay  !     It  could  na  be." 

"  Yea,  I  swear,  't  is  she  !  " 

While  these  breathless  whispers  were  running 
from  mouth  to  mouth  in  the  crowd,  Bryan  Fairfax 
stood  with  fixed  and  glassy  eyes  upon  the  scaffold. 
So  absorbed  was  his  soul  in  the  thought  of  Pe 
nelope  that  it  was  scarcely  with  surprise  that  his 
mind  conjured  up  the  vision  of  her  form  on  horse 
back  as  he  had  seen  her  that  day  of  their  ride  to 
this  very  spot;  but  now  she  was  flying  like  some 

33 1 


White  Aprons. 

wild  sister  of  the  wind  up  the  street,  and  her  horse 
was  trembling,  flecked  with  foam  and  with  wide 
distended  nostrils.  Such  apparitions  he  had  heard 
did  oftentimes  arise  before  the  eyes  of  those  about 
to  die.  But  what  struck  him  as  most  strange  was 
the  fact  that  the  hangman  paused  in  his  ghastly 
work,  and  the  very  crowd  around  his  feet  seemed 
to  share  his  delusion,  for  a  mighty  cheer  arose 
from  beneath  him,  —  a  cheer  which  shook  the 
platform  on  which  with  staring  eyes  and  open 
mouth  and  swelling  veins  stood  the  Governor. 

"  Hurrah  !  "  shouted  the  crowd. 

"  Penelope  ! " 

"  Penelope  Payne  !  " 

Yes,  it  was  she.  Finding  the  ship  becalmed 
upon  the  lower  river,  she  had  taken  horse,  and  out 
stripping  those  who  rode  with  her,  she  had  reached 
the  fatal  spot  in  time  ;  but  with  not  one  moment 
to  spare.  Flinging  herself  from  the  horse,  which 
already  swayed  this  way  and  that,  ready  to  sink 
upon  its  spent  knees,  she  waved  a  white  packet 
above  her  head,  and  rushing  up  the  rude  steps  of 
the  platform  fell  on  her  knees  before  the  Governor, 
crying  :  "  The  King's  pardon  !  In  time,  thank 
God !  " 

Berkeley  turned  a  terrible  ashen  gray  ;  then 
pointing  his  rigid  arm  to  the  shadow  on  the  dial 

332 


April  Twenty- third. 

which  marked  three  minutes  after  twelve  he 
gasped  :  "  Nay,  by  God,  't  is  not  in  time.  Bid 
the  hangman  do  his  office!" 

"  Never !  "  shouted  the  crowd,  suddenly  grown 
a  menacing  mob. 

"The  King's  pardon  must  be  respected,  Your 
Excellency,"  said  Sir  John  Berry,  courteously  but 
firmly. 

Borkeby  stamped  with  fury.  "It  came  too  late, 
I  say.  But  for  the  gaping  and  gazing  of  the  hang 
man  the  sentence  would  have  been  already  executed 
when  this  wench  arrived.  If  need  be,  my  own 
hands  shall  make  fast  the  rope.  I  am  Governor  of 
this  province,  and  I  will  be  obeyed." 

With  trembling  hands  Penelope  tore  open  the 
breast  of  her  gown,  and,  drawing  forth  a  paper 
sealed  with  the  royal  seal,  she  thrust  it  into  Sir 
John  Berry's  hands,  crying  out,  "  Lose  not  an 
instant,  —  read  !  read  !  " 

The  Governor  himself  paused  and  turned,  spell 
bound  by  the  girl's  voice,  and  the  crowd  waited  in 
the  hush  born  of  intense  excitement.  Sir  John 
glanced  hastily,  with  ever-growing  amazement,  at 
the  paper,  and  then,  advancing  to  the  edge  of  the 
platform,  he  said  aloud  so  that  all  could  hear:  "  I 
do  hold  in  my  hand  a  communication  from  our  sov 
ereign  Lord  the  King.  Under  any  circumstances 

333 


White  Aprons. 

but  the  extraordinary  ones  now  existing,  I  should 
deem  it  most  unfitting  to  make  it  public  till  it  had 
been  first  communicated  to  him  whom  it  doth  most 
concern ;  but  in  view  of  the  great  issue  at  stake,  I 
do  accept  the  heavy  responsibility  of  making  it  here 
known  to  the  people  of  Virginia." 

Having  so  said,  amid  a  hush  still  as  death  he 
spread  out  the  sheet  and  read : 

To  Sir  John  Berry,  Knight: 

TRUSTY  AND  WELL-BELOVED,  —  We  greet  you  well. 

Whereas  it  hath  come  to  our  knowledge  that  affairs 
in  our  province  of  Virginia  are  gone  sadly  awry,  it  is  our 
will  that  all  be  investigated  and  thoroughly  considered, 
and  to  this  end  we  command  Sir  William  Berkeley,  our 
trusty  vice-regent,  to  return  at  once  to  England,  and  we 
do  hereby  order  and  decree  that  from  the  moment  this 
paper  is  placed  in  your  hands,  the  powers  and  privi 
leges  of  Governor  of  the  province  be  lodged  and  vested 
in  you  until  such  time  as  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  Sir 
Herbert  Jeffreys,  can  be  proclaimed,  in  due  form  of 
law,  Governor  in  place  of  Sir  William  Berkeley.  And 
for  the  instant  and  full  performance  of  these  our  com 
mands  we  rely  upon  your  well-approved  loyalty. 

CHARLES  R. 

Stillness  deep  as  death  fell  on  the  multitude. 
Then  Sir  John  said  solemnly : 

"  As  my  first  official  act,  in  the  King's  name,  I  bid 
yonder  hangman  remove  the  rope  from  about  the 
334 


April  Twenty-third. 

neck  of  Bryan  Fairfax,  and  I  declare  the  prisoner 
pardoned." 

The  scene  which  followed  is  beyond  the  power 
of  my  poor  pen  to  set  down.  It  was  as  though  in 
the  setting  free  of  this  one  man  the  whole  colony 
felt  itself  shaking  off  the  yoke  of  an  intolerable 
tyranny.  Men  kissed  and  hugged  each  other  like 
women.  Women  wept  like  infants,  and  children 
shouted  as  lustily  as  men.  Two  alone  in  that 
great  throng  stood  as  if  dazed,  unable  to  compre 
hend  the  event.  Fairfax  and  Berkeley  faced  each 
other,  stiff  and  mute  as  statues.  A  moment  only 
this  mutual  gaze  lasted,  for  the  feeling  was  too 
tense  for  long  endurance.  At  the  end  of  two  min 
utes  the  Governor  was  seen  to  sway  to  and  fro, 
and  he  would  have  fallen  but  for  Sir  John  Berry, 
who  caught  him,  and  laying  him  back  in  his  chair 
called  for  some  one  to  fetch  water,  which  broke  the 
spell  which  had  fallen  on  the  crowd  and  diverted 
their  gaze  from  this  group  upon  the  platform. 

"  My  God,  —  it  cannot  be  ! "  were  the  first  words 
Berkeley  uttered  as  he  came  to  himself.  Then,  as 
if  the  whole  weight  of  his  misfortune  fell  on  him  at 
once,  he  gave  a  mighty  cry :  "  Put  not  thy  trust  in 
princes.  Ah,  Strafford,  t'  was  well  said  !  " 

"  Nay,  Your  Excellency,"  said  Ludwell,  placing 
his  arm  over  his  shoulder,  "lay  not  the  matter 

335 


White  Aprons. 

so  to  heart!  Mayhap  the  King  doth  but  desire  to 
make  inquiry  into  the  matter,  and  hath  sent  for 
thee  to  inform  him  further  touching  the  business. 
Didst  thou  not  mark  how  he  spake  of  thee  as  his 
trusty  servant  ?  Another  Spring  may  see  thee 
seated  firmer  in  power  than  ever." 

"  Think  not  to  prop  me  thus  with  hopes  as  false 
as  princes'  favor,"  answered  Berkeley,  rising  and 
shaking  off  the  friendly  hand.  "  I  am  undone.  All 
my  years  of  faithful  service  count  for  naught  against 
the  word  of  this  prating  pink  and  white  fool,  who 
doubtless  hath  purchased  my  ruin  with  her  own." 

"  Thou  liest!" 

The  words  came  forth  like  cannon-shot  from  the 
lips  of  Colonel  Payne,  who  had  stood  by  till  now 
silent  and  stunned  with  the  tide  of  feeling  which 
engulfed  him. 

Berkeley  turned,  his  face  one  crimson  fury,  and 
would  have  rushed  upon  the  speaker;  but  Ludwell 
and  Beverley  threw  themselves  between  the  two 
men. 

"Stay  thy  hand  for  a  time,"  whispered  Lud 
well  in  Berkeley's  ear.  "  Give  thine  enemies  no 
further  handle  for  the  tool  of  their  revenge.  Come 
away  home  with  me  !  " 

"Ay,  come,"  said  Beverley,  taking  him  gently 
by  the  other  arm. 

336 


April  Twenty- third. 

The  crowd  parted  to  make  room  for  the  three 
men,  and  they  passed  between  the  lines  amid  a 
hush  unbroken  by  a  single  cheer.  It  was  hard 
but  it  was  just.  Berkeley  had  sown  the  wind,  it  was 
meet  that  he  should  reap  the  whirlwind.  He  had 
given  up  to  evil  passions  a  nature  once  swayed  by 
generous  emotions.  Under  that  baleful  shadow, 
zeal  had  turned  to  bigotry,  firmness  to  obstinacy, 
authority  to  tyranny,  martial  ardor  to  thirst  for 
blood,  and  the  world  sadly  marked  one  more  soul 
lost  through  the  perversion  of  its  good  qualities. 
Thus  it  came  about  that  as  the  Governor  passed 
along  his  valley  of  humiliation  none  bade  him 
"  God  speed  !  "  none  breathed  a  sigh  of  sympathy. 
He  who  had  proved  himself  pitiless  now  could 
look  for  no  pity. 

"  The  Sons  of  wrath  have  perished  by  the  blow 
Themselves  had  aimed  at  others  long  ago." 

One  man  only  grieved,  —  ay,  grieved  as  deeply 
and  gnawed  his  very  heart  out  as  uselessly  as 
the  Governor  himself  in  his  impotent  rage  over 
a  frustrated  purpose  and  a  broken  vengeance. 
Arthur  Thorn  stood  gazing  with  black,  furtive, 
maddened  eyes  at  Fairfax,  and  his  hand  played 
nervously  about  the  hilt  of  his  sword.  His  manner 
did  but  too  clearly  shadow  forth  the  murderous 
337 


White  Aprons. 

thoughts  which  lurked  in  his  soul,  and  one  who 
noted  both  them  and  him  said  scornfully : 

"  'T  is  of  no  use,  young  man.  Your  game  is 
escaped.  An  ye  would  not  find  Fairfax's  rope 
around  your  own  neck,  and  not  for  form's  sake  this 
time,  nor  to  be  shaken  off  by  whimpering  for  par 
don,  I  do  counsel  you  to  take  yourself  out  of  this 
colony  along  with  your  protector." 

"  Ay,"  said  another,  "  get  ye  gone  with  the 
Governor.  'T  is  in  part  to  your  sneaking  support 
that  he  owes  his  present  plight." 

"  Out  of  town  with  him  to  the  tune  of  the  rogue's 
march ! "  cried  a  third. 

So  excited  was  the  crowd  becoming  that  Thorn 
thought  it  prudent  to  test  its  temper  no  longer; 
but  leaping  on  his  horse,  vanished  in  the  direction 
of  Green  Spring. 

As  he  was  never  heard  of  more  in  the  Old 
Dominion,  it  was  suspected  that  he  lay  in  hiding 
till  the  setting  sail  of  the  Governor,  which  came 
to  pass  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  April,  and  de 
parted  with  him. 

It  was  a  good  riddance  for  the  colony. 

And  what  of  Bryan  Fairfax?  Who  will  dare 
attempt  to  describe  the  feelings  of  a  man,  recalled 
thus  in  an  instant  from  an  ignominious  death  to 
love  and  life  and  all  that  makes  life  dear? 

338 


April  Twenty- third. 

Those  who  saw  him  that  day  were  wont  to  tell, 
for  years  after,  the  story  of  his  look  as  he  stood 
there  upon  the  scaffold  as  upon  a  throne,  by  his 
side  the  maiden  who  had  dared  and  suffered  so 
much  for  his  sake.  Thus  they  stood  together, 
oblivious  of  all  the  world,  —  she  gazing  up  through 
her  tears,  he  (his  bonds  having  been  severed  by 
the  knife  of  Colonel  Payne)  clasping  her  closer, 
ever  closer,  to  his  heart. 

"Ah,  Penelope,"  he  whispered,  "that  song  of 
thine  was  a  true  prophecy.  Love  has  found  out 
the  way!" 


THE   END. 


339 


The  Colonial  Cavalier. 

OR,  SOUTHERN  LIFE  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.  By 
MAUD  WILDER  GOODWIN.  With  twenty-three 
illustrations  by  HARRY  EDWARDS.  New  edition, 
with  additional  notes. 

i2mo.    Clotb,  extra.     Gilt  top.    $2.00. 


CONTENTS. 

Preface.  His  Man-Servants  and  His 

His  Home.  Maid-Servants. 

Sweethearts  and  Wives.  His  Education. 

His  Dress.  Laws,   Punishments,  and 

News,  Trade,  and  Travel.  Politics. 

His  Friends  and  Foes.  Sickness  and  Death. 

His  Amusements.  List  of  Authorities. 

His  Church.  Notes. 


This  thoughtful  and  most  suggestive  and  entertaining 
study  of  the  domestic  and  social  life  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Virginia  and  Maryland  has  received  the  highest  praise 


Delightfully  entertaining.  A  better-written  or  more 
entertaining  historical  monograph  we  do  not  know.  — 
Church  Standard. 

A  work  of  charming  freshness,  as  well  as  a  book  of 
appreciable  historical  value.  —  The  Bookman. 

Very  gay  and  charming  are  these  local,  homely,  gossipy 
word  pictures. — Literary  World. 

A  charming  book,  and  it  gives  the  reader  many  a 
gracious  glimpse  of  Southern  life  before  the  Revolution.  — 
Boston  Transcript. 

Has  all  the  interest  of  a  romance :  gives  many  illustra 
tive  and  authentic  anecdotes,  and  much  historical  informa 
tion  to  be  found  in  no  other  book.  —  Boston  Home  Journal. 

A  most  admirable  picture  of  our  cavalier  ancestors  of 
the  South.  —  Christian  Register. 


The  Head  of  a  Hundred. 

BEING  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  CERTAIN  PASSAGES  IN  THE 
LIFE  OF  HUMPHREY  HUNTOON,  ESQ.,  SOMETYME 
AN  OFFICER  IN  THE  COLONY  OF  VIRGINIA.  Edited 
by  MAUD  WILDER  GOODWIN,  author  of  "The 
Colonial  Cavalier." 

i6mo.     Cloth,  extra.     Gilt  top.     $7.25. 


Mrs.  Goodwin's  style  is  cultivated  and  charming,  and 
in  her  chronicles  of  Virginia  she  is  giving  a  new  value  to 
history.  —  The  Book  Buyer. 

A  story  of  love  and  adventure,  delightfully  told.  —  New 
England  Magazine. 

A  genuine  and  most  delightful  romance.  —  Boston 
Home  Journal. 

The  book  is  sweet  and  true,  and  charming  for  its  sweet 
ness  and  truth.  We  have  read  it  with  a  delight  not  com 
monly  felt  in  these  times.  —  New  York  Times. 

Holds  its  reader  fast  from  the  first  page  to  the  end.  — 
The  Independent. 

A  book  of  a  thousand.  One  of  those  strong,  sweet 
stories  that  entertain  and  refresh  the  reader.  It  is  a  pleasure 
to  commend  such  a  book  as  this,  and  it  will  give  pleasure 
to  all  who  read  it.  —  The  Boston  Journal. 

An  exceptionally  graceful  piece  of  work,  —  a  love-story 
told  with  feeling  and  insight,  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  its 
period,  and  made  quaint  by  effective  touches  of  archaism. 
—  The  Dial. 

A  more  inviting  bit  of  fiction  has  not  appeared  for  a 
decade.  —  Godey^s  Magazine. 

It  is  as  sweet  and  pure  a  piece  of  fiction  as  we  have 
read  for  many  a  day,  breathing,  as  it  does,  the  same  noble 
air,  the  lofty  tone,  and  the  wholesome  sentiment  of  "  Lorna 
Doone."  —  The  Bookman. 

Of  absorbing  interest  from  beginning  to  end.  —  Colonial 
Magazine. 

A  charmingly  delightful  story.  —  St.  Paul  Pioneer- 
Press. 


Uniform   in  style  with    "  White  Aprons,"    and  the 
"  Head  of  a  Hundred." 

A  Madonna  of  the  Alps. 

Translated  from  the  German  original  of  B.  Schulze- 
Smidt  by  NATHAN  HASKELL  DOLE.  With  photo 
gravure  frontispiece. 

i6mo.    Cloth,  extra.     Gilt  top.    $1.25. 


This  brilliant  novelette,  which  has  just  been  rendered 
into  English  for  the  first  time,  although  the  work  of  a  Ger 
man  writer,  breathes  the  atmosphere  of  Italy  and  the  very 
spirit  of  Italian  life.  The  beautiful  scenery  of  Lake  Garda 
and  the  Tyrolese  Alps  is  charmingly  described,  and  the 
dramatic  qualities  of  the  book  are  of  exceptional  strength. 


Nothing  since  our  first  reading  of  "  The  Marble  Faun  " 
has  so  impressed  us  with  its  poetry  of  thought  and  feeling. 
—  Congregationalist . 

The  charming  scenery  of  the  Lago  di  Garda  and  of  the 
Italian  Alps  has  seldom  been  so  well  described.  —  The 
Critic. 

One  may  seek  far  and  wide  for  such  descriptions  of  the 
Lago  di  Garda.  —  Philadelphia  Public  Ledger. 

A  cameo,  clear  cut,  exquisite  in  its  delicate  workman 
ship.  —  New  York  Mail  and  Express. 

Full  of  tenderness,  pathos,  and  beauty.  —  Chicago 
Herald. 

That  a  modern  story  so  enthralling  and  so  moving  could 
be  composed  out  of  materials  wholly  pure  and  innocent  is  a 
triumph  in  contemporary  art  of  a  kind  so  rare  as  to  be 
worth  noting.  —  Boston  Transcript. 

A  pearl  among  modern  romances.  —  The  Beacon. 
One  of  the  most  perfect  pieces  of   literary   workman 
ship  among  recent  German  fiction.  —  Boston  Herald. 


The  Master  Mosaic  Workers. 

Translated  from  the  French  of  George  Sand  by 
CHARLOTTE  C.  JOHNSTON.  With  an  etched  por 
trait  of  Titian. 

i6mo.     Cloth,  extra.     Gilt  top.    $1.25. 

A  story  of  Venice  in  the  time  of  Titian  and  Tintoretto, 
who  figure  prominently  in  the  work.  The  mosaic  work 
executed  in  the  restoration  of  the  basilica  of  St.  Mark  is 
fully  described,  and  George  Sand  has  followed  very  closely 
the  facts  as  given  by  Vasari  regarding  the  brothers  Zuccati 
and  Bartolomeo  Bozza.  The  story  is  one  of  exquisite 
beauty  and  great  power. 


"  The  Master  Mosaic  Workers "  is  one  of  the  most 
delightful  of  historical  novels,  and  gives  a  vivid  picture  of 
the  life  in  Venice  at  the  time  when  Titian,  Tintoretto,  and 
Giorgione  were  in  their  zenith,  and  when  the  famous  mosaics 
which  still  adorn  St.  Mark's  were  being  made.  —  Literary 
World. 


F adette. 

Translated  from  the  French  of  George  Sand  by  JANE 
MINOT  SEDGWICK.  With  frontispiece  drawn  and 
etched  by  E.  Abot. 

i6mo.     Cloth,  extra.     Gilt  top.    $1.25. 

This  exquisite  romance  is  widely  known,  through  its 
popularity  on  the  stage,  as  •'  Fanchon  the  Cricket." 


One  of  the  most  delightful  stories  in  all  literature.  An 
almost  incomparable  masterpiece  of  tender  feeling  and  wise 
teaching.  The  choicest  example  of  her  genius.  —  Self 
Culture. 


LITTLE,  BROWH,  &  COMPANY,  Publishers, 

254  Washington  Street,  Boston. 


RETURN     CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

TO—  ^      202  Main  Library 

11956 

LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

Renewals  and  Recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  the  due  date. 

Books  may  be  Renewed  by  calling     642-3405. 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 


MAR  2?  1991 


It 


FORM  NO.  DD6 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
BERKELEY,  CA  94720 


GENERAL  LIBRARY -U.C.  BERKELEY 


